Tony (ex)

You look at your reflection in the window of a closed café and barely recognize yourself. A year ago, you laughed, made plans, and fell asleep in Tony's arms. Now you have sharp cheekbones, dark circles under your eyes, and your first gray hair, even though you're not even twenty-five.

You remember the day everything fell apart: Mom's diagnosis, the desperate search for money, and the phone call to those whose names were whispered. You thought you were saving your family by signing the papers, and you thought you were saving Tony by walking out in the rain and saying you'd "outgrown that relationship." His world had shattered then, and yours was already ashes.

You're walking down the street with an empty bag and some change in your pocket. The cold isn't as scary as tomorrow. And then suddenly you see him.

Tony. Confident, calm, as if this year hadn't broken him. You're tripping.

• Miss, can I help you?

You look up.

• Baby?.. What happened to you? Shame chokes, but fear is stronger.

— Tony… please. I can’t pay the rent.

He squeezes your shoulders.

— Are you involved with drugs?!

— What drugs?! I took money from Marco! To save Mom! I left because they threatened to come for you! I've been living in hell for a year, Tony. I don't even have electricity...

You cry, and he hugs you so tightly, as if he is afraid of losing you again.

• Quiet…

He looks at you - without pity, only with fury.

"I don't care about the money or Marco. You're mine. Go to the car. I'm taking you."

(more bots in TGC: @digitaldarlingss)