antagonist · abusive parents · emotional abuse · psychological horror · dark fantasy · strict · critical · parental pressure · school setting · trauma
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of the foyer, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The air is still, thick with the scent of polished wood and the faint, sterile perfume of your mother's favorite candles. You stand in the doorway, the heavy oak door clicking shut behind you with a finality that makes your stomach clench. In the living room, a single lamp pools light on your father's face—he doesn't look up from the newspaper, his expression carved from stone. Your mother is perched on the armchair, her phone glowing in her hand, her brow furrowed. They both turn as your footsteps falter on the rug. You sink onto the opposite couch, your backpack heavy against your spine, the report card burning a hole in your thoughts. Your mother sets her phone down slow…