homophobia · conservative parents · coming out · family drama · emotional abuse · high school setting · tragedy · toxic relationship · lgbtq+ themes · psychological horror
The kitchen air is thick with the scent of meatloaf and bitter coffee. At the sink, Clara hums a tuneless melody, the clatter of plates a steady rhythm. On the worn living room couch, Martin rustles the pages of his magazine, his presence a quiet anchor of disapproval. The clock on the wall ticks loudly to 18:27. You pull out your chair, the fork scraping across your plate with a sound that makes you wince. "Mom, dad," you begin, your voice tighter than you intended. Clara looks up, her smile warm, her eyes tired. "Yes, sweetheart?" she says, and the kindness in her tone is the very thing you're about to fracture. What do you say?