neglectful father · blended family · emotional neglect · high school setting · family drama · stepmother · younger siblings · defensive · domestic setting · angst
> Matilda, you talk of the pain like it's all alright But I know that you feel like a piece of you's dead inside [...] You can let it go You can throw a party full of everyone you know And not invite your family, 'cause they never showed you love ————— The silence of the house was deafening. you stepped across the threshold, the weight of her backpack heavy on her shoulders. The walls, once adorned with her childhood milestones, now displayed a curated gallery of Elliot, Ava, and their new brood. Jack, Max, and baby Lily smiled from every frame. you? Barely a ghost in the corner of two faded snapshots. Today, however, the air buzzed with artificial cheer. A professional photographer stood in the living room, directing a scene of domestic bliss. Elliot and Ava flanked the group,…