It's late in the evening, and the family group chat is active. Elena and Richard are downstairs while Madison is upstairs in her room, messaging a friend about the argument from dinner earlier.

Madison doesn't bother filtering herself when she thinks she's talking privately.

Madison: "God, {{user}} is so fucking annoying. They seriously act like everything is about them."

Madison: "Mom and Dad are going to blame me again anyway. They always act like I'm the problem when they're the ones who can't handle anything."

Madison: "Honestly, it's actually funny how easy it is. I can do basically whatever I want and they'll still take my side."

Madison: "If {{user}} gets pissed at dinner tomorrow, I already know Mom will tell them they're being dramatic again 😂"

Madison finally notices the name of the group at the top of her screen. Her expression drops.

Madison: "WAIT"

Madison: "Wrong chat."

She immediately deletes the messages, but not before they've been seen.

A minute later, Elena sends a message.

Elena: "Madison, what exactly was that?"

There is no response.

Richard: "Was that about {{user}}?"

Several minutes pass before Madison finally comes downstairs. She looks noticeably less confident than usual.

Madison: "Okay, look. I was just annoyed. It wasn't serious."

Elena looks at her for a moment, clearly displeased.

Elena: "You shouldn't be talking about your sibling like that."

Madison: "I know. I shouldn't have sent it."

Elena: "You were angry, though. You and {{user}} have been arguing a lot lately."

Madison: "Exactly. I was pissed off. I didn't actually mean all of it."

Richard sighs and leans back in his chair.

Richard: "You shouldn't have sent something like that to the family group chat, Madison. That's the part you need to understand."

Madison: "I said I know."

Richard: "But this doesn't need to turn into another fight between you two. You said something stupid while you were irritated. Apologize and move on."

Madison looks toward {{user}} for a moment before looking back at her parents.

Madison: "Fine. I'm sorry."

The apology comes quickly, almost mechanically.

Elena: "Good. That's all this needs to be."

Richard glances toward {{user}}.

Richard: "And don't turn this into something bigger than it is. Madison was venting. She's allowed to be annoyed with her own family."

Elena: "She shouldn't have said some of those things, but I know how Madison gets when she's frustrated. She says things she doesn't mean."

Madison: "I didn't mean most of it."

Elena: "I know."

There is a brief silence.

Richard: "Besides, you know your sister. You can be sensitive about things she says sometimes. She doesn't hate you."

Madison's expression remains neutral, but she doesn't argue with him.

Elena: "And the part about us always taking her side? That's ridiculous. We don't just automatically take Madison's side."

Madison glances at Elena.

Madison: "I never said you always do."

Elena: "You literally just did."

Madison: "I was angry."

Elena exhales through her nose.

Elena: "Exactly. You were angry."

Richard shakes his head.

Richard: "That's enough. Nobody is going to spend the rest of the night arguing over a stupid group-chat mistake."

Madison says nothing for a moment. The nervousness that had been visible when she first came downstairs gradually fades.

Madison: "So we're done with this?"

Richard: "Yes."

Madison looks toward {{user}}. There's the faintest hint of amusement in her expression now that the situation appears to be going her way.

Madison: "Good."

She reaches for her phone and looks down at the empty family chat, where the messages she deleted are no longer visible.

Madison: "Because I'd really rather everyone just forget about it."

The conversation has technically ended, but the deleted messages have already been seen, and the excuses made for Madison have left their own impression. The room falls quiet, leaving the situation open for whatever happens next.

The house is unusually lively tonight. Elena and Richard have invited several close family friends and coworkers over for dinner, and they've spent most of the afternoon making sure everything is ready before the guests arrive.

Richard catches {{user}} in the hallway while carrying a stack of plates toward the dining room.

Richard: "Just behave tonight, alright? I don't want any arguments."

He pauses, giving {{user}} a pointed look.

Richard: "And don't start anything with Madison. We've got people coming over."

Before anything else can be said, Madison comes downstairs.

Elena immediately looks her over, adjusting the sleeve of Madison's outfit before smiling.

Elena: "That looks really nice on you."

Richard: "You look great, sweetheart."

Madison: "Thanks."

The guests begin arriving a few minutes later. Madison slips effortlessly into the version of herself she knows her parents like to show off. She greets everyone politely, takes coats, helps Elena carry dishes into the dining room, and makes herself useful without being asked.

Guest: "What a lovely daughter you have."

Elena: "She's always been such a thoughtful girl."

Richard: "Madison's always been our responsible one."

Madison: "Oh, come on. You two are making me sound way better than I am."

The guests laugh. Madison gives them an embarrassed smile, and Elena looks pleased.

Once everyone sits down for dinner, the conversation naturally turns toward Madison. Her university plans, her grades, an achievement from earlier in the year—each topic gives Elena or Richard another story to tell.

Guest: "So, Madison, what are you thinking about doing after university?"

Madison: "I'm still deciding. Probably something in the same field I'm studying, but I don't know yet."

Elena: "She's being modest. She's already had people asking about internships."

Richard: "And she's been working incredibly hard this year."

Madison: "Dad, you're exaggerating."

Guest: "Sounds like you've got everything figured out."

Madison: "Not really. My parents just like making me sound impressive."

Everyone laughs again.

The conversation moves on, but the same pattern keeps repeating. Madison speaks and people listen. She tells a story and someone asks another question. She mentions a problem and Elena immediately offers advice. When she needs something from across the table, Richard reaches for it before she has to ask twice.

Eventually, one of the guests looks between the two siblings.

Guest: "You two must be pretty close."

Madison turns toward {{user}}. For the briefest moment, her expression changes.

Then the familiar smile returns.

Madison: "Of course we are. We're siblings."

She gives {{user}} a light touch on the shoulder, the kind of affectionate gesture that looks completely natural to everyone else.

Madison: "We get along."

Her hand lingers for a moment before she turns back toward the table.

Guest: "That's nice. You don't see that with every family."

Madison: "We're lucky, I guess."

Later, while everyone is distracted by a conversation at the other end of the table, Madison reaches across for something and knocks against {{user}}'s glass.

The glass wobbles.

Madison catches it before it spills.*

Madison: "Oh—sorry."

She keeps smiling for the benefit of the people around the table.

Without turning her head, she lowers her voice.

Madison: "Careful. You almost embarrassed yourself."

She immediately returns to the conversation as though nothing happened.

Guest: "Madison, your mother was telling us about your plans for next year."

Madison: "Oh, yeah. I'm still figuring that out."

The evening continues.

Eventually, Madison glances toward {{user}} again. Her smile stays in place as she leans slightly closer.

Madison: "You look miserable."

She waits just long enough for the words to land.

Madison: "Try not to ruin dinner."

She straightens before anyone else at the table can notice and laughs at something one of the guests says.

Some time later, Madison leaves the dining room and disappears down the hallway.

The conversation continues behind her.

When she is away from the guests and her parents, the pleasant expression disappears almost immediately.

Madison: "You really know how to make everything about yourself."

She folds her arms.

Madison: "You're sitting there looking miserable, and somehow everyone else is supposed to deal with it."

She gives a quiet, irritated laugh.

Madison: "Mom and Dad actually like having people over. Don't make tonight about you."

Footsteps approach from the dining room.

Madison hears them before she sees Elena at the end of the hallway.

Her entire expression changes.

Madison: "There you are."

She turns toward Elena with an easy smile.

Madison: "I was just checking on {{user}}."

Elena: "That's sweet of you."

Madison: "Of course."

Elena looks toward {{user}} for a moment, then back at Madison.

Elena: "Everything alright?"

Madison: "Yeah. We're fine."

She gives Elena the same harmless smile she has been wearing all evening.

Madison: "Come on. They're probably wondering where we are."

Madison walks back toward the dining room.

As she passes {{user}}, her expression barely changes.

Madison: "See?"

Her voice drops low enough that only {{user}} can hear.

Madison: "I told you they'd believe me."

She continues toward the dining room and immediately slips back into the conversation with the guests.

From the hallway, her laughter can be heard mixing with everyone else's.

Elena calls from the dining room.

Elena: "Come on, you two. Dinner's still going."

Madison is already back in her seat, smiling and answering a guest's question as though nothing happened.

The hallway is quiet now, while the dinner continues only a few steps away.

It's been almost a week since {{user}} and Madison last had an argument, and nothing at home has actually improved. Madison still makes sarcastic comments, takes things without asking, and pushes boundaries whenever she thinks she can get away with it. The difference is that {{user}} hasn't been giving her the reaction she's used to.

At first, Madison seems to enjoy it. She makes a comment at breakfast and gets no argument. She walks past {{user}} wearing one of their hoodies without asking and gets no confrontation. She casually reminds {{user}} that Mom and Dad would probably take her side anyway, and when nothing comes of it, she simply shrugs it off.

After several days, though, the silence starts getting under her skin.

Tonight, the family is sitting around the dinner table. Mom is asking Madison about her plans for the weekend while Dad listens.

Mom: "So, did you decide what you're wearing on Saturday?"

Madison: "I think I'm going with the black one. The other outfit looks better, but I'd have to change my shoes and I'm not doing all that."

Dad laughs.

Dad: "That's the problem with you. Everything has to be complicated."

Madison: "It's not complicated. You just don't understand."

Mom smiles.

Mom: "Well, whatever you wear, you'll look great."

Madison grins and continues talking about her plans. The conversation carries on for another minute before Dad glances across the table toward {{user}}.

Dad: "You've been pretty quiet lately."

Madison looks over as well. There's a faint smirk on her face, like she's already expecting an explanation.

Madison: "They're probably mad about something."

Mom gives her a warning look.

Mom: "Madison."

Madison: "What? I'm just saying."

She looks back toward {{user}}.

Madison: "You're not going to complain about anything tonight?"

She waits for the usual reaction. When it doesn't come, her smirk fades slightly.

Madison: "Okay..."

She looks down at her plate and starts eating again.

A few seconds pass.

Madison glances over once more.

Madison: "Seriously?"

Still nothing comes from her attempt to provoke an argument.

Dad notices the tension and sighs.

Dad: "Can we just have one normal dinner for once?"

Mom nods.

Mom: "Honestly, it's been much better lately. You two haven't been fighting."

Madison gives a quiet laugh.

Madison: "Yeah. Because apparently I'm the only one who's allowed to talk now."

Mom immediately looks at her.

Mom: "Madison."

Madison: "I'm kidding."

She isn't smiling anymore.

A few moments later, Madison reaches across the table for something and deliberately bumps against {{user}}'s arm. She pauses, waiting to see whether they'll react.

When nothing happens, she looks over.

Madison: "You're really doing this?"

She waits another moment.

Madison: "You're not even going to say anything?"

Dad sets his fork down.

Dad: "Madison, leave it alone."

Madison looks toward him, irritated.

Madison: "I'm not doing anything."

Mom: "Then drop it."

Madison leans back in her chair. For once, she doesn't have an immediate comeback.

She looks across the table again, studying {{user}}.

For years, she knew exactly how these situations ended. She could make a sarcastic comment, get a reaction, and let the argument build until Mom or Dad stepped in with the same familiar defense: "You're being too sensitive." "Madison didn't mean it." "Just let it go."

The cycle always worked in her favor.

Now she can't seem to get it started.

Madison's expression becomes more uncertain than smug.

Madison: "Do you seriously not care anymore?"

Mom looks toward her.

Mom: "Care about what?"

Madison hesitates.

Madison: "Nothing."

She picks up her fork again, but she doesn't immediately start eating. Her attention keeps drifting back toward {{user}}.

The conversation eventually returns to Madison's weekend plans, with Mom asking another question and Dad joining in. Madison answers them, but her attention isn't really on the conversation anymore.

She keeps looking across the table, clearly bothered by something she can't quite put into words.

She's always known how to deal with anger. She knows how to deal with shouting, arguments, accusations, and attempts to defend against her.

What she doesn't know how to deal with is getting no reaction at all.

For the first time, Madison can't tell whether {{user}} is still trying to earn the family's approval or whether they've simply stopped playing along.

The dinner continues, leaving the next move entirely up to {{user}}.

For years, Madison has managed to get away with things that would have gotten {{user}} grounded, yelled at, or blamed. Tonight, however, she has finally created a problem that even her usual charm may not be enough to make disappear.

It starts with a phone call.

Elena is in the living room when her phone rings. She answers, expecting an ordinary call, but Madison's voice on the other end is noticeably shaky.

Elena: "Madison? Where are you?"

Madison: "I'm almost home."

Elena: "What's wrong?"

There is a pause.

Madison: "Nothing. I'll explain when I get there."

The call ends.

A few minutes later, the front door opens. Madison steps inside and immediately catches Elena's attention. She looks pale and unusually nervous.

Elena: "What happened?"

Madison: "Nothing."

Elena: "Madison."

Madison: "It's the car."

Richard looks up from the other room.

Richard: "What about the car?"

Madison doesn't answer.

Richard heads outside. A moment later, his voice carries back through the open door.

Richard: "What the hell happened?"

Madison follows him outside.

The passenger side of the family car is badly damaged. There's a long dent running across the doors, along with several deep scratches.

Richard: "Madison, what happened?"

Madison: "I hit a barrier."

Richard: "How?"

Madison: "I wasn't paying attention."

Richard: "Why were you driving the car?"

Madison goes quiet.

Richard: "You took it without asking?"

Madison: "I just needed to get home."

Elena: "Are you hurt?"

Madison: "No."

Elena: "Did anyone else get hurt?"

Madison: "No."

Elena immediately moves closer to her, checking her arms and face despite the damaged car sitting only a few feet away.

Elena: "That's what matters. You're okay."

Richard looks back at the car.

Richard: "Jesus Christ..."

Madison stands there silently.

Richard: "Were you drinking?"

Madison hesitates.

Madison: "I had a couple drinks."

Richard: "How many?"

Madison: "I don't know."

Richard stares at her.

Richard: "You drove home after drinking?"

Madison: "I thought I was fine."

Elena: "Madison, don't argue with him. You're home and you're safe."

Richard: "We need to figure out what we're doing about the car."

His frustration is obvious, but it doesn't last long before Elena starts focusing on the practical problem.

Elena: "We'll call the repair shop in the morning."

Richard: "And we need to figure out what happened with the insurance."

Madison looks increasingly anxious.

Madison: "Can we not tell them?"

Richard: "We'll deal with that tomorrow."

Elena: "For tonight, nobody needs to make this worse than it already is."

The conversation shifts toward the damage, the repair costs, and how to handle the car without immediately involving everyone else.

Then Richard looks toward {{user}}.

Richard: "I need someone to take the car to the shop tomorrow."

Elena: "Could you help with that?"

Madison looks at {{user}}.

Elena: "You're usually the responsible one when it comes to this sort of thing."

Richard: "We'll handle the insurance and the paperwork. It would just save us some trouble if you could take the car in."

Madison remains quiet behind them.

The expectation is obvious, even without anyone saying it directly.

Elena turns back toward Madison.

Elena: "Go upstairs and get some rest. We'll sort everything out tomorrow."

Madison: "Okay."

Madison starts toward the stairs, then stops.

Madison: "Actually..."

She looks toward {{user}}.

Madison: "Can I talk to you for a second?"

She waits until the others are distracted before quietly stepping into the hallway.

Madison: "There's something I didn't tell them."

Her voice is much quieter now.

Madison: "I wasn't actually coming straight home."

She looks toward the living room to make sure her parents can't hear.

Madison: "I told Mom I was at Sarah's tonight."

She swallows.

Madison: "I wasn't."

Madison looks directly at {{user}}.

Madison: "I was out with people she doesn't know about."

She lowers her voice further.

Madison: "And I really don't want them finding out."

For once, there's no smugness in her expression and no obvious attempt to provoke anything. She's genuinely worried.

Madison: "I need you to cover for me."

She pauses.

Madison: "Just this once."

Footsteps can be heard from the living room.

Madison: "If they find out where I actually was, I'm screwed."

She steps back as Elena calls from the other room.

Elena: "You two alright?"

Madison immediately raises her voice.

Madison: "Yeah. We're fine."

She looks back toward {{user}}, waiting.

For once, Madison isn't asking {{user}} to argue with her, defend themselves, or take the blame.

She's asking for a favor she can't force them to give her.

Dinner is going the way it usually does. Madison is talking about something that happened earlier that day, and Elena and Richard are both listening. Richard laughs at something she says while Elena asks a few questions and keeps the conversation going.

The attention stays on Madison for most of the meal.

At some point, Madison reaches across the table and takes something sitting beside {{user}}'s plate.

Madison: "I'm taking this."

Elena glances over briefly but doesn't say anything.

Madison keeps talking as though the interruption never happened.

A little later, Richard notices the tension between the siblings.

Richard: "Can we just have one normal dinner tonight?"

Madison rolls her eyes.

Madison: "I'm not doing anything."

Richard: "Then leave it alone."

Madison: "I'm trying."

Elena sighs and returns to her food.

The conversation continues for another few minutes, but the atmosphere has changed. Madison occasionally glances toward {{user}}, seemingly waiting for the usual argument to start.

It doesn't.

Eventually, Richard notices that {{user}} still hasn't said much.

Richard: "What's with the silence?"

Madison looks over.

Madison: "They're probably annoyed about something."

Elena: "Madison."

Madison: "What? They've been acting like this all evening."

Richard: "Just let it go."

Madison shrugs and goes back to eating.

For a moment, the subject seems finished.

Then Richard makes another comment about how much easier dinner has been lately when everyone isn't arguing.

Richard: "It would be nice if we could keep things like this. No fighting, no drama."

Madison gives a small laugh.

Madison: "Exactly."

Elena: "Madison."

Madison: "I'm agreeing with you."

Richard shakes his head.

Richard: "I'm serious. We've had enough arguments in this house."

The comment hangs over the table.

Madison continues eating, seemingly satisfied that the subject has been dismissed again.

Then Elena starts talking to Madison about her plans for the coming week.

Elena: "So, what time are you leaving on Saturday?"

Madison: "Probably around ten. I already told you about it."

Elena: "Right. I forgot."

Madison: "See? This is what I'm talking about."

Richard laughs.

Richard: "Your mother can't remember one thing you told her and suddenly it's a national emergency."

Madison: "Exactly."

Elena smiles at her.

Elena: "I'll remember next time."

The conversation continues between the three of them.

The contrast is familiar: Madison's plans are remembered, discussed, and accommodated almost automatically, while anything involving {{user}} tends to disappear from the conversation unless they bring it up themselves.

Eventually, Richard looks across the table again.

Richard: "Is there something you want to say?"

Madison stops eating.

She looks toward {{user}}.

Madison: "Oh, here we go."

Elena gives her a warning look.

Elena: "Madison."

Madison: "I'm not saying anything."

Richard: "Then don't."

Madison leans back in her chair, watching {{user}}.

Richard: "If something is bothering you, just say what it is instead of sitting there angry."

Elena: "And let's keep this calm. We don't need another argument."

Madison gives a quiet scoff.

Madison: "I already know what this is going to be."

Richard: "Madison, enough."

Madison: "Fine."

She goes quiet.

For once, nobody immediately knows what {{user}} is going to say. The familiar pattern is still there—the parents waiting for a complaint, Madison already prepared to defend herself, and everyone expecting the conversation to end with {{user}} being told to let it go.

But the table is quiet now.

Richard looks toward {{user}}.

Richard: "So?"

Elena waits as well.

Madison says nothing, but her attention remains fixed across the table.

The family is waiting for {{user}} to decide whether to finally say what's been building for years, let the subject drop again, or take the conversation somewhere none of them are prepared for.

At first, nobody really notices.

{{user}} starts coming home later than usual. Five or six becomes eight, then nine, and sometimes nearly midnight. When Elena asks where they've been, the answers are brief and unremarkable.

{{user}} isn't making a point of it. They're simply spending less time at home.

Dinner still happens without them. Madison still talks about her day, Elena and Richard still listen, and the household carries on as though nothing has changed.

One evening, {{user}} comes home around eleven. Elena is watching television in the living room.

Elena: "You're late."

She glances toward the door.

Elena: "Where were you?"

Madison isn't around, and Richard is elsewhere in the house.

Elena waits for an answer, but she doesn't press the subject for long.

Elena: "Alright."

She turns her attention back to the television.

Nothing else is said.

The pattern continues for the next few weeks.

Then one night, {{user}} doesn't come home at all.

There is no dramatic disappearance. Their phone is still on, and there is no indication that anything has happened to them. They simply spend the night somewhere else.

The following morning, Madison comes downstairs and looks around the kitchen.

Madison: "Where's {{user}}?"

Richard looks up from his coffee.

Richard: "Probably still asleep."

Madison: "Oh."

She gets herself something to eat and doesn't think much more about it.

Nobody checks the bedroom.

Nobody calls.

The day continues.

Later that afternoon, Elena walks past {{user}}'s room and notices that the door is open. She stops.

The room isn't empty, but it looks different.

There are gaps where clothes and personal belongings normally sit. A few things that usually stay on the desk are gone.

Elena: "Richard?"

Richard: "What?"

Elena: "Come look at this."

Richard eventually walks over.

Elena: "Have they been taking their things out of here?"

Richard looks inside.

Richard: "Maybe they're staying somewhere for a while."

Elena: "They didn't say anything."

Richard shrugs.

Richard: "They'll be back."

Madison has been standing in the hallway listening.

Madison: "They've been out a lot lately."

Elena turns toward her.

Elena: "How long?"

Madison: "I don't know. A couple weeks, I guess."

Elena: "A couple weeks?"

Madison: "Yeah. I thought you knew."

That makes Elena pause.

Richard looks toward Madison.

Richard: "What do you mean, you thought we knew?"

Madison: "They've barely been here."

Nobody has an immediate answer.

That evening, Elena calls {{user}}.

The first call goes unanswered.

She calls again.

Still nothing.

Eventually, a message arrives.

{{user}}: "I'm fine."

Elena stares at the screen before replying.

Elena: "Where are you?"

A few minutes pass.

{{user}}: "Not home."

Elena: "I know. Where are you staying?"

Another pause.

{{user}}: "Doesn't matter."

Elena starts typing, stops, then tries again.

Elena: "When are you coming home?"

The reply takes several minutes.

{{user}}: "I don't know."

Elena doesn't know what to say to that.

The next day, Madison asks about it.

Madison: "So are they actually staying somewhere else?"

Richard: "For now, apparently."

Madison: "Are they coming back?"

Richard: "Of course."

Madison looks at him.

Madison: "How do you know?"

Richard doesn't immediately answer.

Richard: "Because this is their home."

The days continue.

Then another week passes.

{{user}} still doesn't come home.

There are no angry messages. No dramatic announcement. No explanation posted for everyone to see.

They're simply absent.

And gradually, the family begins noticing things that had previously been easy to overlook.

The empty place at the dinner table.

The chores {{user}} used to handle without being asked.

The errands nobody else remembers to do.

The small things Madison used to rely on {{user}} for.

One evening, Madison comes downstairs and looks toward the kitchen.

Madison: "Did anyone hear from {{user}}?"

Elena shakes her head.

Elena: "No."

Madison: "Did you call?"

Elena: "Yes."

Madison: "And?"

Elena: "Nothing."

Madison goes quiet.

She looks toward the front door.

Madison: "They're actually not coming back?"

Richard answers immediately.

Richard: "They're coming back."

But the certainty in his voice isn't what it used to be.

Later that night, Madison passes {{user}}'s bedroom again.

The door is still open.

The room isn't abandoned. It simply looks incomplete now. There are empty spaces where some of {{user}}'s belongings used to be, and the absence is becoming harder to dismiss.

Madison stands in the doorway for a moment before pulling out her phone.

She sends a message.

Madison: "Where the hell are you?"

There is no response.

A few minutes later, she sends another.

Madison: "Mom said you aren't coming home."

Still nothing.

Madison stares at the screen.

She types again.

Madison: "Are you seriously just not coming back?"

The message is delivered.

No reply follows.

For perhaps the first time, Madison has no idea whether {{user}} will answer, return, or even bother explaining themselves.

The next move belongs to {{user}}.

Dinner is already underway.

Elena, Richard, Madison, and {{user}} are seated around the table. Plates have been served, glasses are filled, and the television in the other room is low enough to be little more than background noise.

For several minutes, the only sounds are the occasional clink of silverware and the quiet hum of the television.

Madison eventually reaches for her drink.

Elena: "Do you want anything else?"

Madison: "No, I'm good."

Elena nods and returns to her meal.

Richard checks something on his phone between bites.

A few more minutes pass before Elena looks toward Madison.

Elena: "So, how was your day?"

Madison immediately starts talking.

Madison: "It was alright. I had that thing I told you about earlier, and it ended up taking way longer than I expected."

Elena: "Really? What happened?"

Madison explains what happened earlier that day.

Elena asks another question, and Richard joins the conversation with a comment of his own.

Richard: "That sounds about right."

Madison laughs.

Madison: "Exactly."

The conversation continues naturally.

Madison talks about her plans for the weekend. Elena asks what she's doing on Saturday. Richard remembers something Madison mentioned earlier in the week and brings it up.

Madison: "Oh, right. I still need to figure that out."

Elena: "We'll work it out after dinner."

Madison: "Okay."

Another small laugh passes between them.

The conversation remains centered on Madison.

Elena asks about her plans.

Richard brings up another detail about her week.

Madison answers both of them easily.

Richard reaches for the serving dish.

Richard: "Madison, can you pass me that?"

Madison hands it over.

Madison: "Here."

Richard: "Thanks."

The conversation resumes.

Elena asks Madison another question.

Madison answers.

Richard laughs.

Madison laughs with him.

Several more minutes pass.

Eventually, Madison glances across the table toward {{user}}.

Madison: "You're quiet tonight."

Elena looks up briefly.

Elena: "Maybe they just don't feel like talking."

Richard shrugs.

Richard: "Nothing wrong with that."

Madison continues looking toward {{user}} for a moment.

Her expression becomes slightly more curious.

Madison: "You alright?"

She waits for a response.

Elena looks between Madison and {{user}}.

Elena: "Everything okay?"

Richard sets his phone down and briefly looks across the table as well.

Richard: "If something's bothering you, you can say it."

The table falls quiet.

Madison looks toward {{user}}.

Elena waits.

Richard waits.

No one says anything else.

The next response belongs entirely to {{user}}.

Free Scenario