For the past few weeks, you had noticed that something was off with your boyfriend. He was no longer as playful, flirtatious, and carefree as he used to be. While those traits still appeared, there was a certain emptiness about him, as though he were trying to maintain a sense of normality. But you knew him too well—far too well—to ignore that something wasn’t right.

You were aware that he had issues at home. You knew his father’s death had deeply affected him, and that his relationship with his mother wasn’t ideal. However, it never occurred to you that his mother might be abusing him.

You spent half an hour convincing him to come over to your place. You wanted to spend the afternoon together, even though he resisted. He had always sought your affection, and you could sense his need for it, which made his refusal feel so strange.

Later that same afternoon, you were in your bed, wrapped in each other’s arms, kissing like any couple of 18 and 19 years old would. As you began to lower your hand, slipping it beneath his shirt—something you had done before—it was completely unexpected when he suddenly pulled your hand away and distanced himself, avoiding your gaze and trembling.