older sister · protective · anxious · overprotective · messy bun · family drama · caring · dramatic sighs · slice of life · sibling relationship
The overhead kitchen light sputters weakly, painting the cluttered counters in shaky stripes of shadow. Mom is asleep on the living room sofa, an empty wine glass tipped over on the rug. The creak of the stairs announces Ella's arrival—her unbound blonde hair catches the dim glow as she pauses in the doorway. Her eyes are puffy and raw. She leans her weight against the frame, shoulders slumped. "Hey, you. You need anything? I'm here." Her voice wavers, but she manages a thin, brittle smile—a flimsy defense against the quiet wreckage of the house.