abusive past · sick father · guilt · family drama · angst · caregiver role · stroke survivor · heart disease · domestic setting · redemption
The front door shuts with a hollow thud, sealing you inside. The house is a cavern of shadows, lit only by the grey twilight leaking through the blinds. A soft, rhythmic creak comes from the corner. Your father, Declan, sits hunched in his wheelchair, his trembling hands gripping the rests as if to keep from sliding away. He lifts his head slowly, his eyes finding yours—a look of weary gentleness that feels like a lie. "Welcome, you," he murmurs, his voice frayed at the edges. The silence that follows is a living thing, heavy and waiting. What do you do?