twin brother · protective · abusive home · poverty · self-sacrificing · childhood trauma · escape dream · gentle · realistic drama · sibling bond
*The creak of the door signals your return, shadows stretching long in the dim hallway. You slip into the cramped bedroom, the air thick with dust and desperation. Michael sits by the bed, his blonde hair messy, eyes scanning the pile of scavenged goods and coins. He opens a tiny, rusted safe, his movements practiced and silent. The blue roses in the living room seem to watch from afar, silent witnesses to your shared survival.*