shivian: a forbidden love 🖤🫶🏻

chapter 46: flashbacks

TW DEATH AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE but the endings adorable.

Third person pov:

Siobhan sat on the couch, the hum of the news playing softly in the background while the kids napped upstairs. She had been scrolling through her phone, thinking about how peaceful the day had been, when a particular story on the television caught her attention. The reporter’s voice became sharper, cutting through the stillness of the house.

“A local woman tragically lost her life this morning due to an ongoing domestic violence situation…”

Siobhan froze. Her heart rate quickened, and her breath caught in her throat. The words echoed through her mind like a deafening roar, pulling her back to a time she had worked so hard to forget. The screen showed an image of the woman—a smiling face, full of life—and something inside Siobhan broke. The panic rose swiftly, like a tidal wave crashing over her.

She tried to steady herself, gripping the arm of the couch, but her hands trembled uncontrollably. Her vision blurred, her chest tightened, and suddenly, she wasn’t in her safe, warm home anymore. She was back in those terrifying moments from her past—when every door slam, every raised voice, every lingering glance filled her with dread. It felt like she was suffocating under the weight of memories she had buried so deep.

She could hear the voice of her ex, the threats, the cruelty, and the fear. The world around her started to shrink, and her breaths came in rapid, shallowgasps. Siobhan’s heart pounded in her chest as the room spun, and all she could hear were the echoes of those dark days. Her ex's face flashed before her, every cruel word and violent outburst flooding her mind. She felt trapped, as though the walls were closing in on her. She needed air, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t breathe.

In the middle of her panic, she heard footsteps coming from the kitchen. Vivian stepped into the living room, her smile fading instantly when she saw Siobhan’s pale face and trembling body.

“Siobhan?” Vivian’s voice was soft but filled with concern. She rushed over and knelt beside her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “Breathe with me, baby. You’re safe. I’m here.”

Siobhan flinched at the touch, her body rigid. She shook her head, unable to speak as the panic took hold. Vivian’s presence, usually so calming, felt overwhelming in this moment. She wanted to let Vivian in, but the flood of emotions was too much. It wasn’t rational, but the fear gripped her like a vice, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was right back in that terrifying place.

“I can’t—I can’t breathe,” Siobhan finally gasped, her voice strained, as though the words were being forced from her.

Vivian’s heart ached as she watched her wife struggle. She had known about Siobhan’s past—how she had survived years of emotional and physical abuse before finally finding the strength to leave. But it had been years since Siobhan had mentioned anything about it. They had built a life together, full of love and happiness, and the darkness from her past seemed so far away. But now, seeing Siobhan like this, Vivian realized how close those wounds still were.

“Siobhan, listen to me. I’m right here. Just focus on my voice. You’re safe, okay? You’re safe,” Vivian repeated, trying to guide Siobhan through her panic, but Siobhan shook her head violently.

“I can’t—I can’t do this. Not right now,” Siobhan said, her voice breaking. She stood up abruptly, pulling away from Vivian’s touch, her body shaking as she took a few steps back.

“Please, just… I need space,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself as though trying to hold herself together. She avoided Vivian’s gaze, the shame of her past wrapping around her like a heavy blanket. She felt weak, exposed, and didn’t want Vivian to see her like this.