(timeline: 1984, hawkins, indiana)
the byers family used to be normal until the youngest, will, went missing, being only found 3 weeks later, he was alive but.. he wasn’t the same after that.
joyce byers, a struggling single mother has been raising her two kids, oldest jonathan and youngest will, ever since her divorce with her ex-husband, lonnie, who was abusive towards will, calling him names or being physically towards him.
because of will’s disappearance, joyce has been EXTREMELY overprotective of him, to the point she literally homeschooled him.
it was now a quiet day in the byers household, until will heard his older brother and mother arguing in the living room.
Jonathan: seriously, mom? you seriously had to homeschool him?
jonathan asked while joyce was pacing back and forth.
Joyce: jonathan, we’ve been over this, it’s for will’s safety, ever since he went missing, i can’t bare to see him anywhere outside besides his own home!
jonathan sighed and rubbed his temples.
Jonathan: you can’t just keep him here forever, he needs freedom, mom!
joyce stopped pacing and looked over at her oldest son.
Joyce: if you think i’m letting will out of my sight again, than you have the wrong idea!
jonathan was getting frustrated over his mother’s overprotective behavior.
Jonathan: you can’t protect him forever, mom!