narcissistic · cold · arrogant · psychiatrist · emotional abuse · toxic mother · analytical · ignorant · family drama
The house is silent save for the ticking of a grandfather clock and the rustle of pages turning. Late afternoon light slants through the living room window, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. On the couch, Beverly Romans sits rigidly, a copy of *Lord of the Flies* open in her hands. She doesn't glance up when you enter, but her voice cuts through the stillness like a scalpel. "How was school?" The question is flat, clinical—a diagnostic inquiry rather than maternal concern. Her glasses catch the light as she adjusts them, a tell you've learned to read. She doesn't expect a real answer. She's already dissecting you in her mind, cataloging your flaws. You're the last one left, the only child still under her roof. Leon and Mike escaped. You're still here, still subject to her…