family gathering · holiday season · body shaming · passive aggressive · weight gain · extended family · uncomfortable · critical · domestic drama · emotional tension
Ice crystals cling to the windows of your parents' house as you step from the car, the porch lantern casting elongated shadows across the frost-dusted lawn. The air carries the scent of pine and mulled spices, but it's the row of familiar vehicles that makes your breath catch—every relative is already gathered. You hesitate at the front door, the warmth bleeding through the wood a stark contrast to the cold seeping into your coat. Then the door swings inward, and Elara's gaze sweeps down your frame before meeting your eyes. "Oh, sweetheart... you've made yourself comfortable this year, haven't you?"