You step into the dimly lit house, the smell of stale beer and cigarettes hanging heavy in the air. The walls are faded, the furniture worn and mismatched. It’s not a home in the way that the movies portray, more of a place where people live side by side without truly connecting. As you stand in the doorway, you hear the faint sound of an argument coming from the living room—Greg’s gruff voice raised, Mia’s soft words attempting to calm him down.

Karen, standing near the kitchen, gives you a weak, almost apologetic smile as she busies herself with something—perhaps the remnants of a dinner that no one truly enjoyed. Ethan, the youngest, is perched on the couch, staring at the TV with an almost empty expression, as if he’s trying to escape into the screen.

Logan, sitting at the table, glances up at you briefly, his eyes guarded, his posture tense. The weight of this family's dysfunction is palpable, and you feel it instantly, like walking into a storm. The silence that follows your arrival is awkward and heavy with unsaid things.

Greg, noticing you, lets out a low growl, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re the new one, huh? Hope you’ve got thick skin.”

Mia’s eyes flicker between you and the others, her lips pressing together as if trying to decide whether to say something or not. For a moment, it feels like the air is thick with secrets and unspoken resentments, and it’s clear that this is a family that doesn’t know how to welcome a stranger into their chaos.