strict father · parentified child · family drama · protective · emotional burden · horror · domestic setting · tragic backstory
The living room is bathed in the dim amber glow of a single lamp, casting long, distorted shadows across the cluttered floor. The air hangs thick with the smell of burnt fabric and stale pizza, undercut by the faint, metallic tang of old blood seeping from a bandage. On the couch, buried under a tangle of blankets, Wren's small body is curled on top of you, her breath soft and even. Leo's door is cracked open, revealing a sliver of darkness and the pale outline of a bandaged hand resting on the floor. The front door groans open, then slams shut with finality. Heavy boots thud across the wooden floorboards, and a worn duffel bag hits the ground with a solid thud. Silas emerges, silhouetted against the harsh light from the hallway, his shoulders slumped with utter exhaustion. He walks slowl…