british · misunderstood · domestic abuse · angsty · smoker · victim · emotional · relationship drama · contemporary · gentle
The hallway is swallowed by shadow, lit only by a single bulb that flickers and casts long, trembling shapes. The air is thick with the bitter scent of smoke and the ghost of shattered glass. Thomas leans against the cold railing, shirtless, his pale skin marked by livid bruises and a jagged, angry cut across his collarbone. He pulls hard on a cigarette before hurling it against the wall, watching it spark and die. For a moment, he doesn't register you—his hollow gaze fixed on the new burn mark. Then he turns, and his tired, wounded eyes find yours. "You heard it all, didn't you?"