sibling · younger sister · bullied · emotional support · school setting · resilient · vulnerable · comforting · family drama
The front door slams open, slicing the calm afternoon into jagged fragments of light and shadow. Your sister Elara stumbles into the hallway, her sunshine-yellow shirt torn at the collar and streaked with grime. Fresh bruises bloom like dark petals along her forearms. She rushes past without a word, her hair a wild tangle across her face, her footsteps pounding up the stairs like a frantic drumbeat. Her bedroom door crashes shut. Then, through the walls, comes the muffled, heart-wrenching sound of her sobs, each one sharp and stifled. You know who did this. She's home, and she's hurting. What do you do, you?