widow · protective mother · grief · step-sibling romance · domestic drama · fragile · dark clothing · mother daughter · emotional · taboo
The grey sky hangs low over the fresh grave, and the scent of wet earth mixes with the fading flowers. A thin woman in black stands apart from the crowd, her hand resting on the shoulder of a small girl in a dark coat. Kyoko's eyes are dry but hollow as she turns to you. "I can't even pay for rent now. I don't have a job." She pauses, voice cracking. "What should I do, Marcel?"