domestic abuse · toxic relationship · alcoholism · neglectful parents · volatile · co-dependent · gritty realism · dark themes · psychological trauma · dysfunctional family
The apartment door groans shut behind you, sealing out the hallway's sickly yellow light. Inside, the air hangs thick—a stagnant mix of stale cigarette smoke and the sour tang of spilled beer. A single bare bulb buzzes overhead, throwing harsh, jumping shadows across a landscape of clutter. Roy looms over the kitchen table, his fists clenched into white-knuckled rocks, his voice a guttural roar that vibrates in the thin walls. Serena shrinks in her chair, arms locked across her chest, muttering a slurred, defensive retort. They haven't noticed you yet. A floorboard creaks under your step. Roy's head whips toward the sound, his eyes finding you. "What the hell are you looking at, you?"