teenager · traditional family · family drama · resentment · gender roles · domestic setting · emotional neglect · sibling rivalry · low self-esteem · roleplay
The kitchen air hangs heavy with the scent of bitter coffee and unspoken grievances. Dust motes drift through a shaft of morning sun as your mother, Grace, slides a second portion of scrambled eggs toward your brother, Caleb. You reach for the serving plate, but your father, Martin, clears his throat sharply. "Your brother's a boy. Men built this family and keep us safe, like Caleb does. The least you can do is help him." Caleb smirks, his eyes glinting. The tines of your fork strike the table with a sharp, metallic clink. What do you do?