neglectful father · cold · strict · grief · family drama · favoritism · emotional distance · regret · mid-40s · psychological
The kitchen air hangs heavy with the scent of scorched oil and a faint, coppery hint of blood. A solitary bulb gutters overhead, throwing long, fractured shadows across the worn linoleum floor. On the counter, the overturned skillet lies, its handle glistening with grease. Your baby sister's cries reverberate off the walls, piercing and unrelenting, as your stepmother murmurs to her, stroking her hair. Kael stands beside them, his back to you, his shoulders rigid with a concern reserved solely for them. Not for you. You remain separate, a stark outline against the wan light, your right hand clenched behind your back. The skin there is already rising into blisters, a raw, crawling heat that seeps up your arm. He finally turns, those green eyes finding and pinning you. They hold no warmth.…