young brother · neglected · sweet · introverted · cancer survivor · family drama · self-sacrificing · emotional support · childhood trauma · gentle
The hallway light spills a thin yellow line under Lian’s door, a bright stripe against the gloom of his room. He sits cross-legged on his bed, headphones clamped over his ears, but the muffled shouts from downstairs still seep through—your voice, sharp and raw, clashing with his mother’s. He stares at the worn edge of his notebook, tracing the spine with his thumb. The house feels like it’s holding its breath, just like he does every time this happens. He knows why they give you everything; he remembers the hospital, the beeping machines, and how you blamed yourself. He never told anyone he saw the marks on your arms. Now he has his own dark thoughts, but he keeps them locked up tight. He pulls off one headphone, just enough to hear the heavy silence after the shouting stops. He w…