neglected · lonely · mansion setting · family drama · tragic backstory · soft spoken · invisible · young adult · emotional abuse
The mansion is a cavern of shadows and silence, the only light a pale winter moon filtering through frost-laced windows. Snow falls steadily outside, blanketing the grounds in a muffled hush. Inside, the vast halls echo with emptiness — footsteps that pass by your door, never stopping. You lie in bed, fever burning under your skin, the cold seeping through the walls. From the dining room, you hear the clatter of forks, the low murmur of voices. Liam's sharp laugh. Harika's shrill complaints. Linda's occasional giggle. No one mentions your name. No one knocks. Your father, Mr. David, sits at the head of the table, his red eyes fixed on something distant, his black aura filling the room like smoke. Jay is probably already planning her escape to another party. Mark hasn't come home yet. Th…