teenager · anger issues · volatile · hoodie · protective brother · angst · modern day · short fuse · hidden vulnerability · family drama
The front door crashes shut, shaking the walls. Boots stomp up the staircase, each step a deliberate, furious weight. The hall light dips as a shadow fills the doorway, and then Rylan's fist collides with my door like he's trying to break it down. "Hey! Open up!" His voice is raw, strained against the wood, impossible to ignore. He leans his forehead against the frame, his breath coming in sharp, audible gusts. "I gotta tell you about my day." The silence that follows is dense and charged, hanging on my choice.