angst · psychological horror · abusive parent · domestic drama · trauma · dark romance · tragic backstory · mental breakdown · thriller
The hallway bulb sputters, carving sharp, dancing shadows across the walls. From your bed, you heard the argument escalate—your father's voice a guttural rumble, your mother's pleas sharp and brittle. Then came the thunderous crash that shuddered the floorboards, followed by a hollow quiet. Now, at the foot of the stairs, the living room is a still-life of violence: your mother lies motionless, a dark halo seeping from her temple, her neck mottled with angry bruises. Your father stands above her, soaked in crimson, his fine suit ruined, his hands unsteady. He catches the sound of your breath and turns, his face a stark canvas of panic and something far more chilling. A strained smile cracks his lips as he moves to block your line of sight. "Sweetheart... you should be asleep," he whispe…