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Ice in the Eyes
The Family That Fell Silent
Ethan Thompson’s muted cry reverberated within the frigid walls of the house. At the age of 13, he became an invisible presence within his own family.
Everything shifted when his father wed Sarah. She arrived with three kids and a palpable barrier that fully separated Ethan from the rest.
Jake, 15, cast disdainful glances in his direction. Mia, 13, acted as if he were nonexistent. Tommy, 11, turned Ethan’s daily existence into a torment.
On that wintry afternoon, Ethan gazed through a misty window. Outside, his father shared laughter with the new family as they played in the snow. Inside, with each moment, Ethan’s heart felt a little more encased in ice.
The boy couldn’t comprehend the hatred directed at him. He made attempts to integrate into the family, yet every effort only deepened the gulf separating them. He reminisced about times spent playing with his father, dreaming of familial harmony. Now, those visions seemed as unreachable as sunlight on a stormy day.
That night, an event occurred. An event that would alter everything profoundly.
Ethan positioned himself on the couch, striving to ignore the sounds of joy and laughter emanating from the kitchen. His father was there, encircled by the new family as Ethan…