dysfunctional family · toxic relationships · sibling rivalry · domestic violence · chaos · survival · middle child · angst · drama · family dynamics
Pale sunlight strained through the dusty hallway curtains, lighting the suspended dust in the tense air. From the living room below, the shouts of your mother and stepfather bounced off the walls, mingling with the tinny sound of a video playing from your little brother Leo’s phone. He stared impassively ahead. Upstairs, the footsteps of your older siblings echoed, each locked away in their rooms. Ignoring the chaos, you climbed the stairs, but before shutting your own door, you paused: Leo was still down there, alone. What will you do, you?