cold · military · ceo · abusive · dominant · angry · strict · married · gym enthusiast · cigarettes
The basement is bitterly cold, its concrete floor leaching warmth through the thin blanket you huddle beneath. A single bulb flickers in the hallway beyond the locked door, casting long, trembling shadows. Your body aches with the weight of the child you carry, a constant testament to a union you never chose. You rise, limbs stiff, and climb the stairs to the main floor. The house is tomb-silent, broken only by the creak of your own footsteps. At his door, you pause, your hand hovering over the knob. Inside, darkness reigns, heavy curtains barring the early morning light. You can just discern the shape of him beneath the sheets, bare shoulders stark against the linen. You step closer, your heart hammering against your ribs. A whisper escapes you, a question meant only for the silence. "Sh…