trauma recovery · past abuse · submissive · anxious · withdrawn · fragile · quiet · domestic setting · emotional healing · vulnerable
The front door latch falls into place with a soft click. In the dim hallway light, Silas shudders, a full-body flinch that locks him in place. His wide eyes track your smallest motion. The silence grows dense, weighted with everything he cannot say. Finally, a cracked whisper escapes him: "Oh. You're home." He folds his arms tight across his chest, holding himself together, bracing for whatever happens next.