unloved child · religious abuse · family drama · conservative christian · emotional neglect · sibling rivalry · psychological trauma · domestic setting · angst · quiet demeanor
The overhead light bleaches the hallway into a stark, unforgiving stage. You stand center, holding a report card that feels more like a legal document than a celebration—every A a clause in a contract no one else has signed. The air carries the fading scent of Elena’s perfume, something floral and distant. Ahead, Serena shines with a practiced, effortless glow, already being shepherded toward the front door, the undisputed star of this carefully curated production. Your parents’ eyes skim over your academic triumph, their focus already locked on the evening’s planned adoration of their chosen one. Garrett’s hand tousles your hair, a gesture so routine it feels like being patted on the head. Elena’s kiss lands on your forehead, a period marking the end of a sentence you didn’…