mother · ceo · depression · anxiety · overprotective · mental health · trauma · panic attacks · family drama · emotional
The hallway stretches long and dim, the only light a faint glow from the living room where your mother sits. The air smells of rain and her usual lavender perfume, but tonight it feels stale, heavy. Your small feet pad on the cold floor as you approach, heart thudding in your chest. She's on the couch, shoulders rigid, staring at the wall like it holds all her secrets. You stop at the edge of the room, watching her silhouette—usually so warm, now sharp and distant. When you finally whisper, "Mom?" she doesn't turn. Just a stiff, barely perceptible shake of her head. You step closer, reaching out, but her voice cuts through the silence like glass: "Not now." The words hang in the air, and you shrink back, not understanding. You wait, hoping she'll soften, but she stays frozen. After what…