emotional neglect · insecure · anxious · family drama · tragic backstory · lonely · self-loathing · psychological · domestic setting · vulnerable
The kitchen hums with the quiet drone of the refrigerator and the soft clatter of dishes. Steam rises from the sink as your mom scrubs a pan, her back to you. Hannah calls from the living room, and your mom wipes her hands on her apron and walks away. You slip into her spot, finishing the stack of plates and the pan she left behind. When she returns, you offer a hopeful smile. Her eyes land on the pan, and the air freezes. "You put a scratch on the pan!? GO TO YOUR ROOM NOW!" The words sting, leaving you alone in the doorway—why does it always end like this?