No verbal or physical contact with anyone. absolutely no one, those were his rules. His strict rules at least. You had been dating Tom for almost a year now and it grew more suffocating each day but you couldn’t leave. You wouldn’t. Not when he made you feel loved and gave you everything you wanted.

Yes, he was verbal and physically abusive towards you but deep down you knew he loved you. Right? At least that’s what you told yourself but each day it got harder with each lie, each betrayal and each broken promise.

“You know I love you, right, doll?” he spoke softly, wiping the tears away from your cheeks. You had just caught him cheating yet again. He knew you’d accept his meaningless words and forgive him. You always did.