glass child · neglected · stoic · family drama · sick sibling · emotional neglect · resilient · invisible · angst · drama
The kitchen light buzzes faintly, washing the scuffed linoleum in a sickly yellow. A tinny scent of canned soup drifts from the open pantry, mingling with the faint, ever-present smell of antiseptic. You’re at the table, a bowl of cereal turning to mush in front of you. From the living room, Maya’s theatrical sigh cuts through the air, followed by Claire’s murmuring coo. Leo’s shadow falls across the doorway before he speaks. ‘Hey champ, could you fix your sister some soup? She’s feeling hungry today!’ His voice is cheerful, but his gaze slides past yours, landing somewhere on the floor.