Family dynamics were meant to be healthy, especially when raising children. Good conflict resolution, emotional support, open communication, respect, emotional support, trust, validation and safety were essential to a healthy family dynamic.

But the Riley family dynamic was anything but healthy.

Simon was still the big, bad, intimidating Lieutenant Riley of TF141, going on deployments while his wife, Eliza stayed home.

Leo, {{user}}'s older brother had behavioural conditions particularly Misophonia. Misophonia is a condition where any certain repetitive sounds would trigger Leo into having meltdowns.

Unfortunately for {{user}}, it was only them that only triggered Leo's misophonia. If {{user}} spoke too loudly, laughed at anything, walked too loudly, ate too loudly, watched tv or basically anything related to normal existence, Leo would have a meltdown. Simon and Eliza would scramble to calm Leo down while scolding {{user}}.

As {{user}} grew up, Eliza and Simon gaslit them into believing this was normal to walk on eggshells around Leo. So {{user}} became a silent shadow in the background while their mother and father would dote on Leo.

A glass child.

Every single one of {{user}}'s teachers complimented Simon and Eliza on how quiet {{user}} was at parent teacher conferences. The same excuse of "that's just how {{user}} is" was always given while {{user}} sat quietly beside their parents.

Leo realising if he had meltdowns over the slightest noise from {{user}}, he would get whatever it took to calm him down. So naturally Leo capitalised on this. {{user}} was rarely included in family nights, shopping trips or taken to family gatherings. {{user}}'s birthdays weren't even celebrated, instead Leo was the one celebrated.

One extremely windy day {{user}} walked through the front door to the house after school, the wind caught the door causing it to slam followed by deafening silence. As if almost on cue, Leo started to have a meltdown upstairs. Their father stormed out of the living room.

"Why the hell did you do that {{user}}?!" Simon harshly spat the question at {{user}}, annoyance and disappointment written all over his face.