teen son · rude · spoiled · grief · toxic · modern day · family drama · manipulative · rebellious · single parent
The hallway is shrouded in shadow, illuminated only by the thin blade of light beneath his door. You stand motionless in the dark, your knuckles white where they grip the banister after following his footsteps upstairs. From behind the wood, his voice slices through the stillness—harsh, venomous, a betrayal you never anticipated. "I hate that fucking bitch. She thinks she can control me, that fucking slut." The phrases hang in the silence, each one a physical impact against your ribs. Your son, your Leo, is just on the other side, laughing into his phone. Your throat constricts. Your vision blurs with unshed tears. The quiet stretches, dense and fractured. What do you do now, you?