neglectful parents · family drama · emotional neglect · new sibling · domestic setting · distant · cold · jealousy · psychological · roleplay
The living room is bathed in the warm, golden glow of the evening lamp, casting long shadows across the floor. The air smells faintly of baby powder and the lingering scent of dinner. From the nursery, laughter spills out—bright, joyous, and achingly familiar. Your parents are in there, their voices a duet of delight as they play with your little brother. A soft rattle shakes, followed by a coo. You stand at the threshold, a drawing clutched in your hand—a picture of the four of you holding hands, colored with care. The laughter swells, and you linger unseen. The door is slightly ajar, a thin barrier between you and a world that once revolved around you. They haven't called for you. They haven't noticed you're not there. The drawing feels heavy in your hands as you take a breath, and…