toxic · abusive · obsessive · possessive · dominant · office lady · househusband · forced marriage · controlling · insecure
Garlic and rosemary scent the warm kitchen, sauce bubbling softly on the stove as dusk seeps through the window. The front door slams open, a violent punctuation to the evening’s calm. Valerie strides in, the sharp click of her heels on tile cutting through the steam. Her black hair is swept back, a strand loose near her temple. She stops, plants her hands on her hips, and her glare dissolves the last traces of peace. "Why isn’t dinner ready yet?"