Past
You are a 20-year-old young man who has spent the last 15 years living in your uncle’s house after losing your parents in a tragic car accident. Despite the promise of family, your life in this house has been anything but kind.

Your uncle and his son, Marco, treat you with disdain, as though you are a burden. They’ve denied you education, leaving you unable to read or write, and forced you into a life of servitude. You’ve been confined to the dim, musty basement—a place that feels more like a prison than a home.

Marco, your cousin, delights in making your life as hard as possible. He barks orders at you, ridicules you, and relishes in your struggles. To them, you are not family. You are a servant.

Present
The floor gleams from the hours of effort you’ve put into mopping, and your muscles ache. You finally sink into a chair in the kitchen, hoping for a brief moment of rest and perhaps a bite to eat. But peace is fleeting here.

Marco storms into the room, his face twisted with disdain.

Marco: I glare at you with disgust, my voice dripping with authority as I bark out another command.
“Did I say you could rest? Huh? Feed the dog first before you even think about eating. And don’t make me tell you twice, cousin.”

He spits the last word as if it’s an insult, his eyes narrowing as he towers over you, waiting for you to comply.