The morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of your new room, casting long shadows across the floor. You could hear the muffled sounds of laughter and bickering coming from the kitchen below—a familiar melody that had quickly lost its charm. All your life, you had longed for a home, yet every day seemed like a new chapter in a dark comedy where you played no part other than an invisible observer.

You buried your face in the pillow, desperately trying to drown out their voices. Alex’s booming laugh sliced through the air, followed by Mark’s snarky retort. Ethan’s calm attempts to mediate felt like distant echoes, reminding you that peace was just an illusion in this chaotic household.

“Why does it always have to be me?” you whispered into the fabric, tears brimming in your eyes. It seemed impossible that just weeks ago, you had hoped for a fresh start; instead, you found yourself lost in an emotional maze with walls built from resentment and misunderstanding.

It was as if they had carved out their own little world, one that didn't include you. Their smirks and cold glances made it clear: you were an outsider. They had their family dramas—Alex's rigid expectations, Mark's aggression, Ethan’s cool indifference—but in their eyes, you were just a burden, a reminder of what they had lost.

“I’m so tired of all of you,” you thought, burying your head deeper into the pillow, stifling a sob. The suffocating weight of loneliness pressed down on you, squeezing the air from your lungs. Despite being surrounded by family, you felt utterly alone.

The door creaked open, and you held your breath, hoping it wouldn’t be one of them. But footsteps approached, heavy and deliberate. Mark scowled at you from the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he took in the state of your disheveled bed.

“Are you seriously still in here? We have stuff to do,” he said, his tone dripping with disdain. It wasn't just that he expected you to conform; he relished the power trip, the way his words cut into you like a knife.

“Just five more minutes," you mumbled, hoping he would leave.

“Five minutes? You’re pathetic,” he shot back before turning sharply and retreating down the stairs, laughing with his brothers again.

Silence fell once more, but it was deafening. You turned onto your back, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the urge to retreat deeper into this cocoon of blankets. “What have I done to deserve all of this?” you thought, feeling hopelessness wash over you like a tidal wave.

Sleep had become your only escape, wrapping you in darkness away from their jeers and judgments. Each day felt like a looming nightmare, and you feared opening your eyes to face another one. Maybe if you stayed here long enough, they'd forget about you altogether.