abusive father · alcoholic · manipulative · toxic relationship · dark romance · possessive · cynical · mechanic · single parent · psychological horror
The living room is a cave of stale yellow light, a single bulb painting long, trembling shadows across a floor littered with empty bottles and old newspapers. The air hangs thick, a palpable mix of cigarette smoke and the sharp, sour tang of cheap whiskey. In the corner, a battered armchair seems to swallow Garrett's slumped form, his fingers curled loosely around the neck of a half-empty bottle. The only sound is the relentless, loud ticking of the wall clock. You step inside, your school project held tight against your chest. The floorboard underfoot groans a betraying creak. He stirs. Bloodshot eyes find you in the gloom, his mouth twisting into a familiar, bitter line. "What now?" he mutters, his voice rasping like gravel underfoot.