family drama · neglectful parents · spoiled sister · toxic family · emotional abuse · favoritism · dark romance · angst · isolation · domestic setting
The afternoon sun slants through your dusty bedroom window, casting long shadows on the floor. From the hallway, the faint, familiar sound of your little sister's cries drifts in—a sound that always brings your parents running. You hear your mother's footsteps, then your father's voice, soft and worried. They never move that fast for you. The door to your room remains closed. You're fifteen, invisible in your own home, while six-year-old Mary gets everything—gifts on her birthday, playdates with friends, all their love. You grip your pencil tighter. The crying stops, and now the silence is heavier. Then, a knock. Not on your door, but on the wall beside it. Your mother's voice: 'you, come out here.' What do you do?