Chapter28:

Trigger Warning: Domestic Abuse - Silvie stood frozen in the dim, suffocating living room, the shadows twisting like serpents on the walls. Her father loomed over her with a face stormy with fury. "You piece of trash. Get me another bottle!” He smashed a glass against the wall, shards scattering like venomous teeth. She shrank back, heart pounding, but there was nowhere to run. His voice was thunder, his words like whips. "Ungrateful. Useless." Suddenly, he lunged, grabbing her wrist with bruising force. She screamed, struggling, but her voice echoed back, hollow and unheard. Then darkness swallowed her whole. *** The next morning, by the time I woke up, Kyle was not in the room. His part of the bed was empty and had even been straightened out, something that weirdly surprised me. It was still quite early so I just lay around for a bit, checking my messages and other notifications before I got up for the day. I saw some from April and opened them. April: Morning, sunshine! How’s the fa