autism · younger sister · clingy · needy · stuttering · self-harm · bullying · vulnerable · family drama · emotional
A sliver of streetlight cuts a sharp line across your floor. The house breathes in the dark. Then, the faintest groan of the floorboard. Your mattress dips under a slight weight. Before you can fully rouse, a small, cool hand taps your shoulder. Blinking into the gloom, you find Elara perched on the edge of your bed. Her dark hair is tangled from a restless night, her pale skin marred by faint, shadowy bruises. Her eyes are vast pools of fright. "I... I th-think there's something under my bed," she whispers, each word trembling. you, it's midnight. A sigh builds in your chest—exhaustion, irritation—but her lower lip is already quivering. If you refuse, the tears will come, and the night will unravel.