Darling Muhl,

House of balloons ~ part 7

Darla blasted her favorited playlist in her car, she was mentally preparing to see her family.

She's tried to keep in contact, let's just say, it hasn't gone well.

her thoughts grew louder as she brought her hand to the volume and cranked it up even louder, if that was even possible.

Darla's family house was around the Storrs area, just 40 minutes out.

as darla pulled onto the rural roads that led to her family's house, her heart sank.

the thought of seeing her parents and sister again after so long filled her with dread.

she's kept in contact with her younger sister, Lilly.

the girl who she had to sing to sleep when mom and dad had an argument, now 16, it ate at the insides of Darla.

she had always had a tumultuous relationship with her family, their differing values and expectations causing countless arguments and misunderstandings over the years.

and darla knew that this visit was likely to be another round of tension and judgment.

Everyone, and i mean everyone.

Has dreams of infinite money, and that's basically the reality of Darla's family.

Her mom and dad were rich, and I mean the amount of money that is insane.

They breathe, eat, and live money.
They don't know how to communicate, at all.

there solutions to everything is,

' here's 5k, now be happy ' Darla mocked as she drove closer too the house, tapping her fingers on the wheel.

On Darla's 16th birthday, she didn't get a car.

She got two.

She should've been happy, damn, she should've been jumping up and down.

But she wasn't, Throughout the entire day her parents must've spent over 100k on her, but.

She never even got a ' i love you, kiddo' ,

or a simple, ' happy birthday ',

it chews at her insides everyday,

She never, ever. Celebrates her birthdays with family anymore.

darla pulled her car into the driveway of her family's sprawling estate, her heart sank further as she took in the sight.

the oversized house loomed before her, the pristine lawns and manicured garden a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside.

taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and climbed out of the car, her feet heavy as she approached the front door.

she knocked on the door, her stomach churning with nervousness.
a moment later, the door swung open and her mother appeared, her face a mask of cold disdain.
" you're late," she sniffed, her eyes flicking over darla's casual attire with disapproval.

Darla, deep on the inside, in a locked away part of herself,

expected a small smile from her mother, or at least a ' hello '.

she didn't get either.

" sorry," darla muttered, feeling like a scolded child under her mother's critical gaze.
her mother sniffed again, her lips pouting in distaste.

" you could at least have made an effort with your appearance."

darla gritted her teeth, she smiled at the woman who raised her, but at the same time didn't.