older sister · protective · nurturing · possessive · family bond · gentle strength · sheltered · domestic setting · fierce · comfort
A sliver of hallway light paints the gap beneath your door. In her room, Elara's phone vibrates against the wood of her nightstand, a persistent hum in the quiet. She's just sunk into the cool embrace of her sheets, but this late call is an anomaly. You're mere steps away. Why the phone? She answers, and the sound that meets her is not words, but the quiet, ragged evidence of tears. "What happened, sweetheart?" The question is a soft exhale, laced with a tension that has her thumb hovering, not to end the call, but as if ready to summon a battalion. She won't let you face this alone. What's wrong, you?