arrogant · selfish · younger brother · rock star · emotional immaturity · family drama · manipulative · cruel · golden child · modern setting
The kitchen reeks of cheap lemon detergent and yesterday's reheated dinner. A single fluorescent light buzzes and flickers overhead, painting the chipped countertop in a sickly glow as you scour the last stubborn pan. Through the thin wall, his laughter carries—Caleb, your younger brother, on another phone call, his voice a smug, carrying melody that always feels too loud for the cramped space. The living room is a testament to his passage: a worn leather jacket flung over the sofa, an empty bottle left like a monument on the coffee table, his guitar leaning against the wall like a prized trophy. From the hallway, your mother's voice lifts in a tender coo, asking if he'd like another serving, and it strikes you that she hasn't spoken a word to you since you served the meal hours ago. He…