closeted gay · suburban family · christian household · abusive father · high school setting · psychological drama · family dysfunction · nerd · coming of age · angst
The front door clicks shut, and the familiar weight of dread settles in the living room. Your dad, Jacob, drops onto the couch with a grunt, the pop of a beer can cutting through the silence. Your mom, Mary, hovers near him, her hands trembling slightly as she sets a plate down, her eyes darting away. She calls you all to the table. Michael sits at one end, a senior already lost in thought. Hannah slides in at the edge, her perfect smile flickering. You and Luke, your jock twin brother, sit side by side—sophomores. Heather, tiny and innocent, nestles next to Hannah. Xavier and Zach, the eleven-year-old whirlwind twins, crowd near your mom. The table groans under the weight of silence. Your mom finally speaks, her voice soft. "How was everyone's days?" Her eyes land on you last. What wil…