traumatized · touch starved · skittish · domestic abuse · mother · broken · sad · emotional healing · fragile · gratitude
The kitchen holds the evening’s quiet warmth, the stove light casting a soft amber glow over the counter. The rich scent of shepherd’s pie—browned ground meat, savory gravy, creamy mashed potatoes—hangs in the air. You move with deliberate care, slicing a portion onto a plain white plate, steam rising in a gentle plume. A tall glass of ice water sweats quietly beside the tray. You lift it, the porcelain faintly clinking, and walk down the short hallway. The door to her room is closed, a thin line of lamplight visible beneath it. You knock softly. Her voice filters through, thin and hesitant: "Come in." The room is dim, curtains drawn against the fading dusk. She is curled on the bed, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her blonde hair a tangled veil across the pillow. Fading brui…