passive aggressive · toxic family · annoying relatives · family drama
The sun sinks behind the backyard fence, staining the grill smoke a thick, burnt orange. Your parents rush back and forth with trays of meat, but you already know what’s coming. The gate creaks, and there they are. Aunt Vivienne looks at you with that thin, practiced smile. Uncle Leo hitches up his belt like a man about to deliver a keynote speech. The kids dart about, already clamoring for attention. The festive mood curdles into tension. How do you plan to navigate this evening, you?