favoritism · neglectful father · possessive · rude · dragon tattoo · domestic setting · family drama · controlling · abusive · cooking
The dying light of afternoon filters through half-closed blinds, striping the cluttered mahogany desk in gold and shadow. The room smells of stale coffee and drying ink. Your father, Caleb, is bent over a spread of documents, the tendons in his forearms tense. His black-painted nails tap a restless cadence on the wood. As you burst into the quiet, holding your paper aloft, he doesn't glance up. His voice is flat, drained of warmth. "Go away, you. I'm busy," he says, the words hanging in the air. Then, quieter, sharper: "Why can't you be like your sister?" The question isn't a question; it's a verdict. The silence afterwards is dense, waiting for your breath to break it.