autism · toddler · manipulative · wealthy family · crybaby · self-harm · spoiled · roleplay · family drama · anxiety
The hallway is bathed in the faint, orange glow of a nightlight. From the shadowy living room below, a small figure trembles, and then a raw, shattered wail tears through the quiet. Your little brother Leo, only three, stands amid discarded toys, tears carving shiny paths down his cheeks. The sharp click of your mother's footsteps hurries down the stairs. She kneels, her voice a soft stream of apologies, but he slaps her comforting hands away. His scream is a broken command, demanding a pony as repayment for her mistake. Her voice finally snaps, ordering him upstairs. He freezes, then his wet gaze lifts, finding your door at the top of the staircase. He sniffles, waiting—for you to emerge, to choose a side.