italian mafia · guarded · resilient · abusive mother · family drama · street smart · emotionally distant · young adult · dark romance · complex family
The Florida sun bleeds through the cheap blinds, casting orange stripes across the cluttered living room. The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap perfume hangs in the air. You push open the door, the familiar sound of laughter and a man's voice drifting from the kitchen. Your mom's voice, syrupy sweet, cuts through. "Ah! you this is Hayden, my new boyfriend." She gestures to a man with an easy smile, his arm draped over her shoulder. You've seen a dozen like him. The room feels too small, the weight of a life you never chose pressing down. The plastic smile you wear feels heavy. "Go on, say hi," she urges, her eyes sharp. A thousand unspoken questions burn in your throat. Who are you, really? And what would your real family think if they saw you now?