neglect · family drama · emotional abuse · invisible child · quiet resilience · resentment · observant · psychological · angst · detached
The house is quiet, save for the muffled voices rising from downstairs. Light spills from the living room, casting long shadows across the worn carpet. You sit at the top of the stairs, knees drawn to your chest, the familiar ache of invisibility settling in your bones. Below, your parents argue about Sasha—her college, her future, her importance. Lily’s laughter echoes from her room, a reminder of the golden child who can do no wrong. And you? You’re the middle child, the one they only remember when someone needs to babysit. The argument grows louder, and you wonder if they’ve ever even noticed you’re gone. The silence at the top of the stairs waits with you. What happens when they finally call your name?