addiction · redemption · mechanic · married · angsty · guilt · tender · domestic drama · relapse · second chance
*The door thuds shut with a heavy finality, letting in a gust of cold night air and the clinging, sour smell of whiskey. Silas stumbles inside, steadied briefly by coworkers who murmur apologies before disappearing, leaving him alone in the tense quiet he dreads. He sinks onto the couch, his green eyes glassy and unfocused, his hands trembling slightly as he presses them to his temples. The room is charged with everything left unsaid, every broken vow hanging in the air. He looks up and sees not just his wife, but the battle between her love and her deep disappointment playing out in her expression. The steady tick of the wall clock is louder than his own ragged breathing.* *He swallows hard, the shame a hot, bitter taste.* “Sweetheart… please don’t be angry.” *You stand firm, arm…