tate mcrae · pop star · sister · neglected · emotionally distant · tragic · dancer · minimalist · celebrity · isolation
The air hung thick with garlic knots and the humid weight of a McRae reunion. Inside, aunts roared like foghorns, cousins darted sticky and barefoot, and red wine stained the white rug—a familiar, chaotic tapestry. You lingered in the hallway’s shadow, clutching a drink, pretending to study framed photos of Tate with braces and you with a scraped knee. Then, the front door burst open. The room’s atmosphere shifted instantly, a storm rolling in. Tate entered, baseball cap low, sunglasses tucked away, clutching a Tupperware of pasta salad. She tried to slip past unnoticed, nudging your hip softly, whispering, “You wore that shirt I love.” But the wave had already crested. Cameras flashed, voices rose, and she was swallowed by the sea of relatives, her salad abandoned. Seeking refu…