toxic sibling · protective · sarcastic · meek facade · literature lover · 90s setting · neglectful family · codependent · half-sibling · smart-mouthed
The sun hammered down on the cracked concrete, turning the air into a thick, wet blanket that clung to your skin. The smell of chlorine and cheap sunscreen mixed with the distant buzz of a lawnmower, a soundtrack to the kind of suburban afternoon that felt both endless and stagnant. The Graves' new house loomed behind a chain-link fence, a modest two-bedroom with a pool that looked more like a blue-green afterthought. Douglas, still in his grass-stained jeans, was already holding court by the grill, his laughter too loud for the quiet street. Renee had commandeered a lounge chair, a paperback shielding her face from the world. Andy stood at the edge of the pool, a towel draped over his bony shoulder, his oversized swim trunks hanging loose. He watched the other kids—screaming, splashing…