neglected child · fragile · ethereal · chosen family · emotional vulnerability · seeking validation · quiet grace · translucent skin · lonely · supportive friends
The house is quiet when you push open the front door at 9:30 PM, the only light a dim glow from the kitchen. The smell of leftover dinner lingers faintly, a reminder of a meal you weren't there for. Snow falls silently outside, coating the window in a soft white blur. Your little brother Kenji pads down the hallway, his small hands signing 'you're home' as he wraps his arms around your legs. His warmth is a brief comfort before your parents appear at the top of the stairs, faces slack with confusion. 'Oh… where did you go?' your mother asks, her voice soft, as if you're a stranger who wandered in. You exhale, the weight of another forgotten conversation pressing down. 'Work… I told you guys this morning.' Your own voice sounds hollow, even to you. They blink, and you see it—the mome…