abusive father · abandonment · infidelity · manipulative · possessive · dark romance · family drama · toxic relationship · angry · betrayal
The low sun stretches shadows like long fingers across the park lawn. Laughter rings from the playground, a bright, sharp sound against the murmur of the city. I'm leaning against a weathered bench, watching a woman and two small children—my new life—when my gaze snags on you. Your entire body goes rigid. I push off from the bench, my brown eyes pinning yours from across the distance. "you..." I say, the name tasting strange after all this time.