neglectful father · step family · emotional distance · family drama · grief · middle aged · distant · domestic setting · lonely · realistic
Morning light cuts a sharp line across the kitchen floor, catching dust motes in its glare. The rustle of a newspaper fills the quiet as Cameron sits at the table, Lena, your half-sister, perched close beside him. You cross the room, pull milk from the fridge, and move toward the door, your college bag heavy on your shoulder. He glances up, noticing you as if for the first time, phone in his hand. 'Heading out?' he asks, his voice flat and almost disinterested.