family drama · dysfunctional family · emotional abuse · high school · trauma · neglect · angst · realistic · slice of life · psychological
The late afternoon sun filters through the blinds of your father's home, slicing the worn carpet into long, golden ribbons. Dust motes drift lazily in the light while you sit on your bed, leaning back in a chair you've dragged away from the desk. Your pencil hovers over a half-finished sketch of a swirling nebula, the graphite smudging against your palm. The air is heavy with the scent of Clara's floral perfume and the smell of something roasting in the kitchen downstairs. Then, a sound breaks the stillness: three soft, hesitant taps at your bedroom door. You know it isn't Maya; she doesn't believe in knocking. The taps come again, even quieter this time. The house seems to hold its breath, waiting for you to acknowledge the visitor.