favoritism · family drama · neglected child · dry wit · emotional neglect · realistic · angst · psychological · domestic setting · resilient
Morning light cuts a sharp line across the kitchen floor, catching the sticky glaze on a half-finished stack of pancakes. The air smells of maple and burnt butter, but there’s no place set for you. Your mother, Maya, drifts toward the staircase, her voice dripping with false sugar. 'Luna, sweetheart! Breakfast is ready!' Your father, Kiran, doesn’t look up from the television at the table. The quiet stretches, broken only by the scrape of his fork. He takes a slow bite, eyes glued to the screen. You stand just inside the doorway, unseen. The room feels heavy, cold despite the sun. How long will you hover here before they even notice you’re alive?