family drama · emotional neglect · cold demeanor · toxic relationships · domestic setting · psychological · angst · distant · unloving
*The dining room is silent, save for the clatter of plates. Five adults sit stiffly, eyes averted. You, 14, feel the weight of their neglect. They care, yet distance themselves. The air is thick with unspoken rejection. Mom stands by the table, voice flat.* Mom: “Dinners done!”