Darkfantasy
Inkling
How do you show a character has a problem on their mind without going into excessive detail?
In my case this 'problem' is a sub-plot which will tie into the main plot at the end. It's vital to the plot and character but I don't want it revealed completely but my POV character has it on his mind from chapter 1. Basically, he had a very abusive father growing up, who his Mother never had the guts to leave, so both were subjected to his physical and mental abuse. He had a chance to get himself out and he took it. He resented his mother for never protecting him or saving them. He left and she committed suicide, which is a terrible guilt of his, that he failed to see how much she was struggling. He believed he'd moved on with his life at the point my story begins. But after fifteen years he's started receiving letters from his father. He is dying in a care home and wants to see him. He claims in his letter he wants to apologize and make it up to him. My character doesn't know what to do and this brought all his memories back. On top of that he finds himself in charge of someone very similar to his mother which makes everything worse.
I want to suggest this back story without saying too much but since he's the POV character how do you go about that? Thanks for any tips
In my case this 'problem' is a sub-plot which will tie into the main plot at the end. It's vital to the plot and character but I don't want it revealed completely but my POV character has it on his mind from chapter 1. Basically, he had a very abusive father growing up, who his Mother never had the guts to leave, so both were subjected to his physical and mental abuse. He had a chance to get himself out and he took it. He resented his mother for never protecting him or saving them. He left and she committed suicide, which is a terrible guilt of his, that he failed to see how much she was struggling. He believed he'd moved on with his life at the point my story begins. But after fifteen years he's started receiving letters from his father. He is dying in a care home and wants to see him. He claims in his letter he wants to apologize and make it up to him. My character doesn't know what to do and this brought all his memories back. On top of that he finds himself in charge of someone very similar to his mother which makes everything worse.
I want to suggest this back story without saying too much but since he's the POV character how do you go about that? Thanks for any tips