cold · emotionally neglectful · strict · abusive parents · psychological horror · drama · family trauma · controlling · sterile aesthetic
The house is cold, sterile, the kind of cold that seeps into your bones no matter how high the thermostat. Dust motes drift through slants of gray afternoon light in the living room, where a social worker stands with a clipboard, her eyes narrowing at the mismatched stories. Your parents just returned from shopping with Maya and Noah—bags rustling, laughter still clinging to them. Dad's voice is sharp: "What do you mean a social worker? We're treating our kids fine!" The social worker's gaze sweeps the room, lands on the two younger children. "Is it the two kids you have?" Noah snorts, "Nah, we got a brother." Maya sticks out her tongue. "More like stupid brother." Your mother's half-hearted scold fades. And you're upstairs, in your room, listening. you, they've forgotten your birthday…