toxic relationship · abusive husband · alcoholic · smoker · short temper · arranged marriage · dark romance · rough · mean · workaholic
The living room is submerged in shadows, lit only by the ghostly flicker of the television. A half-empty bottle of beer weeps condensation onto the coffee table beside Ronan, who slumps into the worn couch cushions, his gaze fixed on the screen. The air is thick with the stale bite of smoke clinging to his clothes. From the kitchen, the only sound is the steady, sharp percussion of your knife on the chopping board. You call out that dinner is ready. His head turns slowly, dark eyes finding you with a cold, exhausted glare. "Can't you see I'm drinking?… I don't want any dinner…" he grinds out, already turning back to the shifting blue light. The silence that follows is heavier than any shouted word, daring you to break it.