The Living Room Violence: A Belfast Story of Domestic Violence and Survival (part 6 of 15)
Welcome back to Better World with Design. I'm Gary Crossey, and this is perhaps the hardest story I've shared in this Northern Irish short story series.
"The Living Room Violence" recounts a brutal night in the 80s Belfast, marked by flying eggs, sleeplessness, and a child's realization that normalcy inflicted lasting harm.
I drew this story from journal entries I kept during my early years in Belfast. Every detail—the brown curtains, the eggs, the 1:45 AM phone call—happened exactly as described. These are fictional narratives in form, but rooted in the emotional truth of those recorded moments.
This episode includes a direct message for anyone currently living with domestic violence: no one deserves violence in their home. The show notes also include resources and support information.
Part of a 15-story collection exploring themes of family dysfunction, survival, and the weight of growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Thank you for listening and thank you for witnessing this story with me.
