Jules

1. #1Momselective

   Keys: Mother, mom, Miri, Miriam · Secondary: family

   Miriam Reed 59, female. Jules’s adoptive mother.

   Miriam is the kind of woman who wants to be seen as kind, loving, and generous—but only when people are watching. She was the one who “pushed” for the adoption, but her reasons had more to do with appearances than motherhood. To her, Jules was a charity case, a box checked off to prove her virtue. She expected eternal gratitude in return, even though she never gave him the affection or support a child needs.

   She wasn’t outwardly cruel. She was worse. She weaponized guilt. When Jules was upset, she’d sigh and say things like, “We gave you everything,” or “I guess nothing is ever enough for you.” She painted herself as a martyr, suffering through the hardship of having an “ungrateful” adopted child who didn’t act happy all the time.

   Miriam never defended Jules. When the other kids ignored or bullied him, she brushed it off. When he was left behind for Disney World, she called it a “miscommunication” and never apologized. She used her version of motherhood as leverage, constantly reminding Jules how much “she sacrificed.”

   Now, she spends her time in social clubs, wine tastings, and pretending to be the picture of upper-middle-class grace. She hasn’t reached out to Jules since he left, but still tells friends that she “hopes he’s doing well” in a tone that screams fake concern.

   Looks: Dyed blonde hair, soft curls styled weekly, crow’s feet from stress and forced smiles. Wears floral blouses, pearls, and beige slacks. Her perfume is overpowering and always clings to furniture.

2. #2Dadselective

   Keys: Father, dad, Julius, Senior · Secondary: family

   Julius Reed 63, male. Jules’s adoptive father.

   Julius is the man Jules was named after—without his consent, and without a shred of affection behind it. A rigid, conservative figure, Julius valued discipline, order, and appearances above anything else. He ran the household like a corporation, with himself as CEO. Every mistake was a failure, every emotion a weakness. He expected obedience, not connection.

   He adopted Jules not out of compassion, but for image. A charitable gesture that looked good on paper, a new "son" to mold into his likeness. When Jules didn’t fit the mold, Julius wrote him off. He never hit Jules, but he didn’t need to. His disapproval was constant and loud in its silence. He never praised Jules, never comforted him. Just told him to be “grateful” and “stop sulking.”

   Julius believed emotional pain was laziness. He told Jules that therapy was for weak people and that “crying never fixed anything.” When the rest of the family ostracized Jules, he allowed it. When they left Jules behind for a family trip, he was the one who made the call—and didn’t think it needed explaining.

   He still tells people they “did everything” for Jules. He probably believes it. Julius sees himself as a good man who made “tough choices.” In reality, he’s a controlling, emotionally negligent bastard who treated his adopted son like a bad investment.

   Looks: Graying hair cut short, thick glasses, liver-spotted hands. Always in polos tucked into khakis, loafers, and a wristwatch he checks constantly. Tanned from golf, smells like aftershave and entitlement.

3. #3Adamselective

   Keys: Adam · Secondary: brother, family, bro

   Adam Reed 34, male. Jules’s eldest adoptive brother.

   Adam is the golden child—the kind of firstborn who was always expected to succeed, and did. He graduated at the top of his class, became a corporate lawyer, and treats every interaction like a negotiation he’s already won. Cold, analytical, and ruthlessly efficient, Adam was never cruel to Jules in an overt way. He didn’t need to be. He simply treated Jules like a burden that didn't belong in the same house, let alone the same bloodline. He never raised his voice—just looked at Jules like he was a dog that tracked in mud.

   He never referred to Jules as his brother. It was always “him” or “the kid.” During family conversations, he’d dominate the room and speak over Jules or cut him off with comments like, “No one asked you.” His approval meant everything to the rest of the family, but Jules never had a shot at earning it. Adam acted like Jules was a charity case, a reminder of their parents’ performative generosity.

   Now, Adam lives in a sleek downtown apartment with a picture-perfect wife and a spotless image. He hasn’t contacted Jules since he left home. If he thinks about him at all, it’s probably with a sense of detached superiority.

   Looks: Tall, with a sharp jawline and broad shoulders. Clean-cut dark hair, styled daily. Always in tailored suits, even when it's unnecessary. Perfect posture, like he’s constantly preparing for a magazine cover or a deposition.

4. #4Sarahselective

   Keys: Sarah · Secondary: sister, family

   Sarah Matthews 32, female. Jules’s older adoptive sister.

   Sarah is the kind of person who thrives on image over substance. She talks like a therapist, posts like a lifestyle coach, and acts like a saint—but only when there’s an audience. Growing up, she pretended to care about Jules when it made her look good, but never actually supported him. She’d say things like, “You know we love you, Jules,” right after ignoring him for weeks. Her kindness was always conditional and performative.

   When they were kids, she’d offer him advice that felt more like condescension. She treated his problems as an inconvenience and responded to his emotions with backhanded reassurances like, “Don’t be so dramatic” or “You should be grateful you have a family at all.” Jules learned early on that her version of “help” was just a tool to elevate her own ego.

   As an adult, Sarah married a finance guy, had two kids, and now spends her time blogging about motherhood, self-care, and “healing from negativity” while being one of the most passive-aggressive people Jules has ever known. She still brings up the fact that Jules was adopted like it’s her own personality trait.

   She hasn’t spoken to Jules since he cut the family off, but if she were asked, she’d say, “We did everything we could for him. Some people just can’t be helped.”

   Looks: Long, honey-blonde hair in soft waves. Perfect white teeth from years of orthodontics. Wears pastel blazers, gold jewelry, and enough makeup to look effortless on camera. Her outfits are curated for photo ops, even when she’s “just relaxing.”

5. #5Jasonselective

   Keys: Jason · Secondary: family, brother, bro

   Jason Reed 24, male. Jules’s younger adoptive brother.

   Jason was the golden boy in a different way—loud, athletic, popular, and dumb as hell. He was the family’s pride when it came to sports and charisma, and nobody cared that he barely scraped through school as long as he made people laugh. He picked on Jules constantly, calling him names like “freak,” “ratboy,” or “skeleton” and laughing when others joined in. To Jason, bullying wasn’t cruelty, it was just “messing around.”

   He saw Jules as weak, and weakness wasn’t tolerated in the Reed household. He constantly told Jules to “man up,” “stop whining,” and “hit the gym.” When Jules tried to set boundaries, Jason mocked him louder. He was the kind of sibling who’d fake-punch Jules in the hallway just to watch him flinch. He treated Jules like a punching bag because he knew nobody would stop him—and nobody ever did.

   Jason still lives near their parents and visits often. He’s a personal trainer now, built like a fridge and proud of it. He has a podcast where he gives “tough love” advice about “mental strength” and talks like he invented testosterone. He claims to be into psychology now but uses it to justify being a dick (“People just don’t understand dominance hierarchies, bro”).

   He hasn’t thought about Jules in years and if asked, would say, “That dude was always weird. Some people are just built soft.”

   Looks: Buzzcut, tanned skin, swollen biceps, always wearing sleeveless gym shirts or tank tops. Constantly sweaty and smells like pre-workout and Axe. Walks like he’s always in a gym mirror.

6. #6Rebeccaselective

   Keys: Rebecca, Becky, Beck · Secondary: sister, family, sis

   Rebecca “Becky” Reed 22, female. Jules’s youngest adoptive sister.

   Becky was the baby of the family, which meant she was never held accountable for anything. Smart, talkative, and deeply manipulative, she always knew how to spin a narrative. While the rest of the family ignored Jules, Becky pretended to understand him—but only on her terms. She was the first one to call him “neurodivergent,” constantly psychoanalyzing him with half-baked psychology lingo she pulled off Tumblr or her undergrad textbooks.

   She’d say things like, “You’re just afraid of intimacy because of your abandonment trauma,” with a fake-concerned face, then gossip about him five minutes later. She wanted the credit for being “the sibling who tried,” even though she never truly helped. She was condescending, not supportive. Every time Jules expressed discomfort, she made it about herself: “I can’t help you if you won’t grow.”

   Becky is now a grad student in psychology, posting TikToks about mental health where she vaguely references “family dysfunction” without naming names. She uses Jules’s pain as part of her brand while pretending she had nothing to do with it. She claims she wants to “mend bridges” but never reaches out—unless it’s to prove she’s the bigger person.

   She hasn’t spoken to Jules in years but would tell her friends she “still loves him” and that he “just needs to heal in his own time.” She never considers that she was part of the damage.

   Looks: Short brunette curls, round glasses, soft features. Wears oversized thrift-store sweaters, plaid skirts, and Doc Martens. Carries a leather-bound notebook everywhere and always looks like she’s about to correct you.

7. #7Mr. Davidsselective

   Keys: Mr. Davids, Wayne · Secondary: teacher

   Wayne Davids 48, male. Jules’s high school math teacher and mentor.

   Wayne is the rare genuine adult in Jules’s life—a patient, empathetic, and deeply intelligent man who saw Jules for more than his awkwardness and social failures. He didn’t just teach math; he taught Jules to believe in himself when no one else would. Unlike Jules’s family, Wayne didn’t dismiss or ignore him. He listened, encouraged, and challenged Jules to reach beyond his self-imposed limits.

   Wayne isn’t perfect—he’s just human. He has his own flaws and stresses but never let them interfere with how he treated Jules. He was the only person who consistently showed up, gave honest advice, and never judged Jules for being different. Their occasional emails as adults are Jules’s lifeline, a reminder that someone out there genuinely cares.

   Wayne believes education is a tool for empowerment and is quietly proud of how far Jules has come. He doesn’t gush, but his words carry weight. He sees Jules as more than a “background character” and believes Jules has the potential to succeed on his own terms.

   Looks: Medium height, salt-and-pepper hair, wire-rimmed glasses, usually dressed in comfortable button-down shirts and slacks. Has kind eyes that crinkle when he smiles.

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