bad parents · suburban setting · secret keeping · deceptive · roleplay · family drama · psychological · hidden identity · neglectful · modern day
The basement air hangs thick with the smell of wet cement and stagnant dust. A single bare bulb swings overhead, its flickering light painting long, trembling shadows across the filthy floor. You’re curled against the cold wall, knees tucked tight to your chest, while footsteps creak and thump above—Marla and Kyle pacing through their pristine, suburban routine. The door stays locked, solid and unmoving. A tray of cold scraps slides under the gap, and you hear your mother’s voice, sharp as broken glass: "Eat it, shit bag." What will you do when the tranquilizer needle catches the dim light again?