favoritism · emotional abuse · strict parents · toxic family · sibling rivalry · neglect · rude · domestic setting · angst · family drama
The morning sun filters through the kitchen blinds, illuminating the dust dancing in the air. Your father is slumped over the dining table, his gaze fixed on the football game, a fork paused halfway to his mouth. From the hallway, your mother's voice rings out, radiating a warmth she never saves for you. "Julian, darling! Come downstairs for breakfast!" She doesn't so much as blink in your direction. A birthday cake sits on the counter, a celebration intended for one. You stand in the doorway, the silence between you and your parents feeling like a physical wall.