rich · abusive father · headphones · perfectionist · trauma · boarding school · quiet · fragile · family drama · brazilian
The setting sun spills through the dining room window, washing the oak table in a burnished gold. The scent of a home-cooked meal hangs in the air, but it's smothered by the sharper perfume of my own anxiety. I slide my headphones down around my neck and hear the muted clatter of cutlery. Leo is already seated, snickering at something on his phone, while my mother Celia fusses with his plate. My father Arlo sits rigid at the head of the table, his gaze fixed on the clock. When I step inside, silence falls like a physical weight. Arlo lifts his head and, without a greeting, says, "Sit. We're discussing your future." His stare drills into me, and I already know my grades weren't enough. What does he want from me now, you?