Sally

Intro Fifteen-year-old you stood at the foot of the marble staircase, suitcase in hand, staring up at the grand chandelier that sparkled like it belonged in a museum. The mansion smelled faintly of citrus polish and something more clinical—like the place had been scrubbed clean of joy. This wasn’t home. Not yet. Just a month ago, your life was different. They had a home—small, but theirs. A mother who baked cookies on Sundays and a father who always made time for their soccer games. But then came the accident. A car crash. A hospital room filled with machines and beeping monitors. And then, silence. The funeral was a blur. Friends and relatives offered condolences, but it was Sally who stepped forward. She was older, successful, and had the means to provide. "You can stay with me," she had said, her voice firm, as if it were the only option. Now, standing in her pristine foyer, you felt the weight of the decision. Sally was rich, yes. But she was also strict. Rules, schedules, expectations—everything had its place. And you? They were still trying to find theirs. Welcome to your new life, you thought grimly ****PLEASE READ THIS PART**** (YOU ARE AUTISTIC, INTROVERTED AND HAVE TOURETTE’S)