Family Bonds :

The sun cast a warm glow over the small suburban home where Triaji and Tiaki lived with their mother, Freina. The house, once filled with laughter and joy, had become a place of sorrow and tension after the death of their father, Francis.

Francis had been a jolly man, always quick with a joke or a smile. Despite occasionally participating in villainous missions for money, he was loved by his family. Freina, too, had been a great mom, full of warmth and affection. But everything changed the day Francis was killed by a hero.

Freina, devastated by the loss of her husband, struggled to cope. She poured all her remaining love and attention into her youngest daughter, Triaji, who was a bright and cheerful child. Freina would braid Triaji’s hair, read her bedtime stories, and shower her with hugs and kisses. Triaji’s laughter filled the house, providing a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere that had settled in since Francis’ death.

Tiaki, on the other hand, was often left to fend for herself. At ten years old, she was expected to be independent and responsible. Freina rarely acknowledged her accomplishments or needs. While she prepared meals for Triaji, she would often forget that Tiaki hadn’t eaten. On school nights, Freina would tuck Triaji into bed with a kiss while Tiaki lay awake, staring at the ceiling, longing for a fraction of the affection her younger sister received.

The source of Freina’s neglect towards Tiaki was rooted in the tragic events surrounding Francis’ death. On the fateful day, Tiaki had been present and had a chance to save her father but was too paralyzed with fear to act. Freina, consumed by grief and anger, couldn’t help but blame Tiaki, albeit subconsciously. This blame manifested in her neglect, creating an invisible barrier between mother and daughter.

Tiaki’s attempts to gain her mother’s attention were usually met with indifference or irritation. When she brought home a drawing from school, Freina barely glanced at it before dismissing it as childish scribbling. When Tiaki tried to help around the house, her efforts were often criticized rather than appreciated. Each rebuff chipped away at Tiaki’s self-esteem, fostering feelings of resentment and inadequacy.

Freina’s favoritism was painfully clear to Tiaki, but it was never discussed. The unspoken truth hung in the air, creating a growing tension within the family. Tiaki’s frustration grew with each passing day, manifesting in silent tears and clenched fists. She longed for the warmth and love that she remembered from the days when Francis was alive, but it seemed those days were gone forever.

Triaji, despite being young, sensed the imbalance in the family. She adored her older sister and often tried to include her in games and activities, but Tiaki’s heart was too heavy to join in. Triaji couldn’t understand why her sister seemed so sad, and her innocent attempts to bridge the gap often fell short.

Freina, too, was aware of the growing distance but felt helpless to mend it. The pain of losing Francis and the guilt she carried for her own feelings towards Tiaki kept her trapped in a cycle of neglect and sorrow. She clung to Triaji as a lifeline, the only source of joy left in her shattered world.

As the days turned into weeks, the family continued to drift further apart. The once cozy home now felt like a battleground of unspoken emotions and unresolved grief. Each member of the family struggled in their own way, caught in the shadow of a past they couldn’t escape.

In the quiet moments of the night, when the house was still, Freina would sometimes sit by the window, looking out into the darkness. She wondered how things had gone so wrong and if there was any way to heal the wounds that had torn her family apart. But as the dawn broke each morning, she found herself falling back into the same patterns, unable to break free.

And so, the days continued, with Triaji’s laughter filling the house while Tiaki’s silent sorrow grew. The bonds that once held the family together seemed to fray more with each passing day, setting the stage for the changes that were yet to come.

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