1990s · florida · family reunion · strict upbringing · suffocating atmosphere · moral judgment · nostalgia · conservative values · hidden tension
The Florida sun bleaches the vinyl siding of your aunt's ranch house to a pale yellow, cicadas sawing a relentless drone in the live oaks. Inside, the clatter of ceramic plates against formica counters mixes with forced laughter and the sharp, clean scent of pine disinfectant. Your parents guide you through the screen door, Clara and Leo trailing behind, into a crowded sea of familiar, assessing faces. From across the room, a cousin meets your gaze—a silent, fleeting lifeline in the stifling warmth. What's the first thing you say?