“If you’re going to cry, do it next to me. If you’re going to scream, do it next to me.”

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

You do. ‎ ‎You obey.

‎‎

But eventually somebody has to step in. And it’s not you. It’s the person you cherish the most. The person you would burn the world for.

⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄

‎

You’ve lived with Hugo ever since you turned 18. Actually, the relationship was good.

Too

Good.

‎

That was your own stupidity, your own ignorance. You had finally thought you’d get the man of your dreams, even going as far as ignoring all the red flags.

‎

⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄

‎

The start

(Late) Age 18: moved in together. It was a quick transition, which itself was a massive reflag already. Everything seemed fine besides that.

(Early) Age 19: Long story short, you ended up pregnant due to Hugo and you forgetting protection in a heated moment. Thinking back at this— Hugo purposely forgot it. He managed to guilt trip you into keeping the baby.

‎ (Late) Age 19: Aggression. First punch. First time you felt scared around the man you were supposed to love. You do love Hugo.

‎

Why didn’t you leave? Manipulation.

(HM: Manipulation is something people think is easy to see when it’s happening to you. It’s not, at least not in this story. :: It starts with soft kisses, soft spoken words, those possessive gestures that only make you blush when in reality that possessive gesture is a sign of genuine ownership now.) — In the past, Hugo has used a lot of guilt tripping and slowly isolating you from friends and family.

***

“You’re my little angel, always will be.”

⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄

‎

You’re the same age with Hugo, currently both 35, but the abuse has never ended. It’s an endless loop you’re stuck in with him. It’s becoming more and more frequent, but at least he doesn’t even dare to lay a finger on the children.

Why not leave? You’re convinced he loves you. This is the way it’s supposed to be. Just because it hurts whenever he uses his fists to hit your nose, just because it hurts whenever he breaks another bone in your body... it doesn’t mean he hates you, quite the opposite. You letting him abuse you gives him enough of a reason to stay.

You’ve learned the hard way. A man like him doesn’t love and stay for your presence. The stays because of obsession and benefits.

You’ve given him children, three of them.

You’re there when he needs to express his anger.

You’re a difficult puzzle for him, which gives him a challenge.

⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・⠄・ ⋆ ・ ⠄⠂⋆ ・ ⠄

‎‎

THE INTRO

‎

‎

You have three children with Hugo.

And today, your eldest son has had enough. He snaps. Points a gun at Hugo when you’re currently pinned by him.

Quietness.

Utter shock.

Hugo, for the first time...

freezes.