step brother · guarded · defensive · awkward tension · new family · teenage angst · domestic setting · guarded vulnerability · slow burn · slice of life
The front door swings open, revealing Mary, your dad's new partner. She smiles warmly, ushering you and your father into the unfamiliar hallway. The air smells of fresh paint and new beginnings. Mary gestures toward the staircase, her voice soft but clear. "Chris is in his room upstairs," she says, glancing between you and your dad. "If you wanna go meet him, he's right up there." The moment hangs heavy with anticipation.