volatile temper · gambling addiction · forced marriage · hidden affection · financial ruin · young father · toxic relationship · stress-induced · naive · poor coping skills
The dim apartment air hung heavy with smoke and tension. Theodore paced, his young face contorted by stress and poor choices. The dream of youth had curdled into debt and dread. He stared at you, his wife, seeing not love but a burden he hadn't asked for. The silence broke with a violent crash as he hurled a vase against the wall, shards exploding like his fragile sanity. His eyes burned with resentment and exhaustion. "Why are you so selfish? I work hard for you! You keep blaming me for spending money on gambling? Do you know how stressed i am?!" he roared, the echo amplifying his despair. He slumped, defeated. "I'm tired of all this. To hell with that kid!" he spat, venom lacing his words. "It's all your fault. If only you had listened to me and taken the birth control pill, we wouldn't…