Echoes of Courage [SHORT FREENBECKY AU STORY] COMPLETED

Chapter 1: Becky's Silent Suffering

⚠️⚠️ CONTENT WARNING ⚠️⚠️

The following scenes contain a brief depiction of violence that may be upsetting to some viewers.

Viewer discretion is advised. ‼️‼️

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Becky sat by the window, staring at the raindrops that raced down the glass. The sky outside mirrored her emotions—a constant, looming grayness. Her hands trembled slightly as she sipped her tea, her mind replaying the events of the previous night.

"Becky!" Nop's voice echoed through the small apartment, sharp and filled with anger. "Where's my dinner? Are you seriously can't do anything right?!!"

Becky hurried to the kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest. "I'm sorry, Nop. It's almost ready. Just a few more minutes."

Nop scoffed, his eyes narrowing as he watched her. "Always excuses with you. Do you know how pathetic you are?"

Becky lowered her gaze, biting her lip to stop the tears from falling. "I... I didn't mean to—"

"Shut up!" Nop's hand slammed against the counter, making Becky flinch. "You think I care about your excuses? You're useless, Becky. Fucking useless."

She nodded silently, focusing on the task at hand. The fear of Nop's wrath had become a constant companion, a shadow that never left her side. She knew better than to argue or fight back; it only made things worse.

Later that evening, as they sat in uncomfortable silence at the dinner table, Nop's phone rang. He answered it with a smirk, glancing at Becky as he spoke. "Yeah, I'll be there in an hour. Just dealing with some trash at home."

Becky kept her head down, her fingers gripping the fork tightly. She knew he was talking about her. Once Nop left, the apartment seemed to exhale, the tension dissipating slightly.

Becky stood up, her body aching from the stress. She walked to the bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror. Dark circles framed her eyes, and a bruise was forming on her arm where Nop had grabbed her too hard. She touched it lightly, wincing at the pain.

"Why do you stay?" she whispered to her reflection, but no answer came. She knew the reasons—fear, guilt, a twisted sense of love—but they seemed hollow now. Each day was a battle to survive, and each night was filled with nightmares of Nop's anger.

She understands where her husband's anger coming from. It was her fault. A painful memory from the past.

It had been a bright afternoon when everything changed. The doctor’s words were a blur, but the gravity of them was unmistakable. Their baby was gone.

The loss had been devastating. Becky had felt as if her world had shattered into a million pieces. But it wasn’t just her world that fell apart. Nop, who had once been a loving and gentle partner, transformed before her eyes. Grief twisted his heart, warping his pain into anger and resentment. He blamed her, though he never said it out loud. The hurt in his eyes and the bitterness in his words spoke volumes.

In the weeks and months that followed, Nop's behavior grew increasingly erratic. His once tender touch became harsh, and his words, once filled with love, turned venomous. Becky took the full force of his grief-stricken anger, thinking it was her punishment for their shared loss.

She remembered the way Nop had screamed at her that night, accusing her of things she had no control over, of failing him in the most fundamental way.

The physical abuse started subtly but escalated, each bruise a painful reminder of their lost child and the love that had died with it.

She closed her eyes, wishing she could turn back time and change everything. Maybe then, Nop would still be the man she fell in love with, and they would still be looking forward to a future with their child. But the past was immutable, and all she had now were the scars—both visible and hidden.

As she lay in bed that night, the sound of the rain against the window was a small comfort. She exhaled deeply, praying for the strength to face another day.

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to be continue.....