ೃ⁀➷ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏᴘᴀᴛʜ ¬ ᴇɴɢ ᴠᴇʀ

- THREE -

Our first year went well, we celebrated our anniversary with some friends. Our families live out of town, so they didn't spend the day with us, but a few days later we went to see them. First my family, and then his family. My parents received him well, they were happy that their eldest son was happy, but it was his parents who had a different reaction, or so I noticed, since I didn't know them and even less knew what they were like.

When we arrived at Chris's parents' house, they greeted me warmly, as if they already knew me, but I noticed in his mother's eyes a strange feeling of concern and sadness towards me, not towards her own son, maybe she already knew that side of Chris.
During dinner they both said that, from that day on, they would see me as another son, that I was a good boy and that they already loved me, I just smiled and, as we left, I hugged them both as a way of thanking them for accepting me.

We celebrated our second anniversary the same way, only this time our parents came over and, incidentally, both families got to know each other and hit it off. However, after I saw our mothers talking alone in a corner, I noticed a change in my mother's face, as if Chris's mother had warned her about something.

Days passed after the anniversary, my parents were still in town, they stayed at my house. And one of those days, my mother called me to her room to tell me something:

- Son, does that boy really make you happy? -he asked me in a sad tone of voice, but trying to hide it.

- Yes, he treats me well and takes care of me. He says he loves me and tries to show it. -I said quietly, looking into her eyes. - Why do you ask, Miss Lee? We've been together for two years now.

I liked to call her that, I did it with respect, clearly. She was her age and I didn't like the idea of someday being without her, so if she remained a young lady, she would live longer, I thought.

- He hasn't hit you or behaved strangely? -I was surprised by that question, so I quickly denied.

- No, no, never. Nor would I put up with it if I ever did. But why do you ask me that?

- All right, then there's nothing to worry about. -She let out a sigh and her voice sounded calmer. - Don't worry, maybe it was just a confusion.

And there I was left with the doubt, he didn't explain anything, so I didn't fully understand and I just let it go. I should have seen it as a warning instead of forgetting it. Now is when I realize that, now that I have no way to escape.

What I wouldn't give to at least be able to have a hug from my mother right now, to hear her comfort and to be able to sleep between my parents like when I had nightmares. What I wouldn't give to get out of this situation and be able to start over, or turn back time and nothing would have changed.

As it was, the real problems came two months after that day, before we decided to move in together. Chris started asking me often who I was meeting specifically when I told him I was going out and I would naively answer him in detail.
Living together, he would tell me what time to be there, although I would arrive earlier, as I wasn't one to go out for long periods of time.

More months went by, almost reaching the third anniversary, and at that point I just noticed how toxic he could be, unfortunately it was too late and I had no way to escape. The visits to our parents out of nowhere started to disappear, he would constantly ask who I was talking to when he saw me on the phone, even when I was just laughing at funny pictures. The day came when I couldn't leave the house without him, and now we're worse off. I can't even go out in the garden.

The room had become my refuge for now. I would lock myself in there during the day while he was in his office. I don't know exactly when it happened, but we went from being the happy, honest couple to the messed up, toxic couple. I also can't tell my parents about the situation or talk to any friends, because I'm afraid he might have my phone tracked too.

I wish things could change, or at least let me hear from my family.

---

<3

- scarsknow -