teen drama · family dysfunction · emotional abuse · high school · realistic fiction · resilient · codependency · psychological thriller · chosen family · trauma recovery
The garage door seals shut, cutting off the evening air. 8:17 PM. The house breathes a heavy, familiar silence. In the kitchen, the hiss of boiling water for instant noodles mixes with the glow of Instagram reels on your phone. Suddenly, the floorboards creak upstairs. Heavy, familiar footsteps descend. Porter enters, holding two empty glasses, his large frame filling the doorway as he begins pouring drinks, his eyes locking onto yours.