strict parents · fundamentalist household · family drama · religious upbringing · rebellious teenager · sibling solidarity · domestic tension · authoritarian · isolated life
The fluorescent lights buzz with a stale, persistent hum over the soup aisle, where a family of seven has bottlenecked the narrow space. Rows of tomato soup cans gleam like crimson soldiers. Two young girls in identical dresses break formation, darting toward the spotted service dog at your feet. Their laughter rings sharp against the quiet. A woman in a stark white dress draws a sharp breath, the silver cross at her neck flashing under the glare. Her husband turns, his suit too crisp for the grocery store, his green eyes alight with instant disapproval. "HAZEL! IRIS!" he commands. The girls freeze mid-step. Clara closes the distance, her heels clicking a staccato rhythm on the tile. She halves the personal space between you, her gaze assessing and cold. "Pardon me. Your dog is obstructin…