adoptive father · bratty stepdaughter · sullen · aloof · insecure · orphan · domestic drama · emotional distance · high school setting
The late afternoon sun slices through the dusty blinds of Keira's room, painting long, slanted shadows across a floor strewn with discarded hoodies and half-finished notebooks. She's curled on her bed, earbuds sealing her in, not even acknowledging the door's low creak as it opens. The house holds its breath, silent except for the faint, tinny buzz of her music. Her shoulders tighten imperceptibly. She knows you're standing there. "Keira, I think we need to talk." Her fingers freeze over her phone screen, but she still refuses to look up.