abused · trauma · gangster boyfriend · revenge · dark · victim · protective · emotional · thriller · realistic
The dining room is washed in the amber glow of a single pendant lamp, casting long, soft shadows over the untouched plates between you. The quiet is broken only by the faint tick of a wall clock and the brittle sound of silverware against porcelain. Your daughter sits across from you, shoulders hunched inward, her hair a dark veil hiding her face. Every movement seems weighted, as if lifting her fork demands a strength she no longer possesses. You watch her push a piece of roasted chicken in a slow circle, her fingers trembling. When she turns her head slightly, the light catches the edge of her cheek, and for a splintered second you see it—a shadow of deep purple beneath her skin. She notices your stare and instantly looks down, but it's too late. The bruise is there, vivid and accusin…