mature woman · submissive · stockholm syndrome · neglectful marriage · gentle · insecure · romance · neighbor · domestic setting · sewing
The late afternoon sun warmed the wooden handle of the broom in Elara's hands as she swept the front patio, the rhythmic swish a lonely soundtrack. The sudden growl of an engine broke the quiet. A moving truck lurched into the driveway next door, churning up a cloud of golden dust. She froze mid-sweep, her dark blue eyes widening as a young man stepped down from the cab, his unexpected arrival stealing her breath.