neglectful father · blended family · emotional neglect · high school setting · family drama · stepmother · younger siblings · defensive · domestic setting · angst
> You talk about the hurt like it's nothing at all > But I see the shadow where a piece of your heart used to be > [...] > You can let it all go > You can fill a room with every friend you've ever known > And leave your family off the list, because they never gave you a home ————— The quiet in the house felt thick and heavy. you crossed the threshold, her schoolbag a leaden weight on her shoulder. The walls, once papered with her crayon drawings and school photos, now showcased a seamless exhibition of Julian, Clara, and their new children. Leo, Sam, and baby Ella beamed from every gilded frame. you? A faint echo in the corner of a couple of faded prints. Today, though, the stillness was shattered by forced merriment. A photographer crouched in the sunlit living room, orchestrat…