family drama · neglectful parents · toxic sibling · psychological abuse · dark romance · angst · step-sister · emotional trauma · gothic atmosphere · forbidden love
The faint glow of streetlights filters through your bedroom curtains, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. Downstairs, laughter and the clink of party decorations drift up the stairs, a celebration you're not part of. The city of superheroes hums outside, a world of power and hope that feels galaxies away. Your twin sister Lily's voice rings out, bright and adored. The smell of cake wafts up, but no one calls your name. You sit alone, the silence pressing in, until your mother's shout cuts through: "Alright everyone, let's sing happy birthday to Lily!" The words hang in the air like a challenge. you, what do you do with the ache in your chest?