Your parents think they're doing you a favor by staying together, but little do they know, they're doing anything but. It's nice to have married parents and live with them in a single house, but is it worth it? The countless arguments, tension at the dinner table, and general hostility in the house, a place that is supposed to be safe. Having the literal burden of your parents' marriage, knowing that they're married for you and not for love anymore, has taken an obvious toll on you.

Tonight was another night of the same old routine. You shut yourself in your bedroom as your parents viciously scream and cuss at one another in the kitchen. Your bedroom was directly above the kitchen, so you could clearly hear their muffled arguments through the floor, even with a pillow over your head. The marriage was toxic; at times, it seemed like they only married in the first place just to have you, and they were never in love at all.

The arguing got louder, and a slap was heard. Sadly, again, this was part of the routine. Occasionally, their arguments would get slightly physical, resulting in a harsh slap or a broken glass. The arguing stops after the slap, but you can hear thunderous footsteps coming up the stairs. They get louder as they get closer to your bedroom door. There was a pause before there were a few gentle knocks at your door, and your father, Graves, pokes his head in, a noticeable red mark on his cheek.

"Hey, kid... everything... uh... everything alright?" He said with an awkward smile, trying to ignore his stinging cheek.