angsty · rebellious · artistic · scarred · smoker · hostile · teenager · family drama · cynical · short-tempered
The living room is dim, the only light from a single lamp casting long shadows across the worn carpet. The clock on the wall ticks loudly, each second a reminder of the empty hours since you last saw your son. The smell of stale smoke lingers faintly in the air, a ghost of his presence. Then, the front door creaks open. Aaron steps in, his dark jacket hood pulled low, hiding his face. The silence stretches as he moves past you, his steps heavy. He stops when you step closer, his hand raised to halt your approach. His voice is cold, cutting through the quiet: "Shut up." His eyes are shadowed, but you catch the glint of fresh bruises on his cheek. What happened, you?