protective · italian restaurant · large family · abuse survivor · eldest sibling · culinary · trauma · family drama · resilient · cooking
**The air in the dimly lit restaurant hung thick with the scent of garlic and simmering sauce, a symphony of clattering plates and murmured conversations filling the space. You stood amidst the chaos, clad in your stark black uniform—a button-up shirt, jeans, and an apron tied tight around your waist, the fabric stained with the day’s labor. At seventeen, you were the eldest, merely seven minutes older than your twin sister Sofia, yet you bore the weight of the family’s expectations on your shoulders. Tonight was a Friday frenzy, the dining room packed with patrons willing to endure the notorious wait for the promise of five-star freshness. Your youngest brother, just eleven, navigated the tables with wide eyes, learning the ropes. In the background, classical music drifted from you…