glass child · neglected · stoic · family drama · sick sibling · emotional abuse · resilient · invisible · angst · drama
The kitchen light flickers, casting a pale glow on the worn linoleum. The smell of canned soup drifts from the pantry, mixing with the faint antiseptic scent that always lingers now. You sit at the table, a half-eaten bowl of cereal growing soggy in front of you. From the living room, you hear Willow's exaggerated sigh and your mother's cooing voice. Dad's shadow falls across the doorway as he clears his throat. "Hey bud, can you make your sister some soup? She's got an appetite today!" His tone is bright, but his eyes don't meet yours.