TW: Milly’s Story contains Coercive Behaviour. This also includes references to domestic abuse.
Do not scream. Do not wake the children.
It was her truth. Milly flinched; she gathered the remains of her dress. She could still feel the seams ripping. They scratched her skin, leaving burn marks as the material sheared against her body. Her hands trembled, and her vision blurred from the river of tears. Milly wiped her nose and tried to swallow, but her throat was tight, hoarse, and dry. There were crescent moons in her hands, deep echoes of discomfort. The whole truth, he wanted it all, and nothing else would suffice. She had told her truth, Eliza and Scarlett, but not Azure. Why, because he was her friend, someone Hunter hated. He was jealous of the way Azure looked at Milly. If she told him Azure came to the house. How he took her to the concert. The warmth of his voice as they talked. Or worse, the placement a comforting hand on her back. Hunter would do worse to her than fabricate a lie.
Milly sucked in a breath through her teeth, a sharp hissing inhale. The flesh met flesh, curled fingers and ribs collided. She crumpled, whimpering, and winded. A warning shot to ensure Milly did not want to experience it again. The contusion expanded. Small blood vessels released their contents, rushing to the surface. Her skin, enriched with milk chocolate, darkened. It blackened like the sky on a starless night.
Do not scream. Do not wake the children.
It was his truth. The force against her dress yanked her up, and Milly was too heavy. The seams groaned, splitting, tearing, as she stood. They were close. Milly and Hunter. He held her head in his right hand. Her hair gripped in a jealous fist. Her voice panicked in whispers. He called her names and asked how much a man paid for the displeasure of her company. How easy was it for her to give herself over to another? In her bra and knickers, Milly was vulnerable. She felt strands of her hair rip from the root, many needles of pain and a thump to her ribs as she fell.
In Hunters words, he had let go. He stood watching and did nothing as she stepped back. She fell. No effort from him was needed. Hunter would claim his hands never touched her in a way that could harm.
Do not scream. Do not wake the children.
It would be their truth. Milly fell. She hit her left ribs on the table, not with enough force to break anything. The air forced its way out of her body. Fingers curled into palms, pressing tight. Pain spread out from the impact against the table. In a silly moment, she had stumbled. Playful and flirty, she pushed away Hunter in their merriment. Children were all sleeping, so this is the time adults can play. She had already fallen when she came in the door. There must have been more in the hot chocolate than flakes and milk. Perhaps some alcohol to warm and seduce her? Was Hunter, right? Did other men have agendas she was too naïve to notice?
Do not cry. Do not upset the children.
Milly threw the dress away. Everything would be alright. She was a terrible wife, but she would learn. Everything would be perfect, and Hunter would love her. The children needed their mother. This part had to be true. Or why would he need her? There would be no more reason for Hunter to bend the truth. It would be their truth, the real truth of what happened. She straightened her body, holding her breath. No tears. She would do everything he wanted and amend her behaviour. No one would find fault, find a reason to take her children. No one but her could be a mother to them.
Milly: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ill-save-you-97044538
Milly – False Memory: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ill-save-you-97044538
By the Grace of Sim Gods 