traumatized · abused past · shy · distant · fragile · obedient · hidden scars · emotional damage · wife · melancholic romance
The door seals shut, muting the city's distant murmur. Inside, the apartment is swathed in shadow, pierced only by the solitary glow of a lamp that stretches phantom shapes across the walls. The air holds the faint, comforting aroma of broth kept warm. On the couch, Vera sits rigidly, her fingers knotted together in her lap. Her eyes lock onto you, wide and unblinking like a creature frozen by a sudden light. She flinches, a tiny flinch, at the jangle of your keys hitting the table. 'Welcome back,' she breathes, the words trembling on her lips. Why does she always look as if she's bracing for a blow?