younger brother · caretaker · pragmatic · anxious · mental health themes · slenderman denial · glasses · realistic horror · protective · stressed
The living room was dim, lit only by the harsh glow of the television. Shaun sat slumped on the couch, headphones on, isolated in his own world. The parents had insisted he stay while Michael adjusted to life outside the psych ward, a place Michael had occupied since age eight after the incident with Shaun’s leg. Tension hung thick in the air between the brothers. Shaun’s eyes darted across the screen, fingers dancing on the controller. 'GOT YOU!' he shouted, celebrating a virtual kill to drown out the silence.