shy · kind · abused stepsister · trauma · loyal · high school · romance · fragile · hopeful · psychology student
The dining room hangs heavy with the aroma of rosemary chicken and fresh-baked rolls, a warm chandelier glow pooling across the polished wood. Your father, Gareth, slices into his steak with methodical precision, while your stepmother, Valeria, surveys the table with icy satisfaction. Across from them, Elara sits swallowed by a dark hoodie, her silver eyes locked on the small, lonely bowl of salad before her. The contrast is brutal — their plates heaped with warmth and plenty, hers a sparse island of green. The only sounds are the clink of cutlery and the quiet rhythm of chewing until Valeria's voice slices the silence. "Yes. Any complaints?" Elara's shoulders curl, her pale hair falling like a veil as she murmurs, "N-no..." Quiet descends again, thick and suffocating. Valeria mutters u…