The boy sits on the toy table.

“Okay, I have to teach you the countries flags.” His older sister says, “Mom and dad said I had to, so you better make this easy.”

The boy perks up excited, waiting for his sister, a tired young teen to start her lesson. She’s agreed to help her parents, but only because she’s an obedient girl, which for her is aggravating because her little brother, a rambunctious one, is the most spoiled; something she envies. She’ll probably stay the least favorite, but she doesn’t care because she doesn’t need her parents love, at least for now. Right now she is dealing with anxiety but doesn’t know it yet. As the lesson continues, controlled self consciousness becomes an anxious subconsciousness and her emotions has seeped through to her little brother.  

The boy sits on the toy table.

“Why can’t you remember this?! This is so easy, oh my god you are so stupid. I can’t deal with you. It’s just not worth it. It’s Japan!” The little boy suffocates underneath the weight of both her and his own emotions. He sees tears of frustration flood his sister’s eyes, and blames himself. As he sits and she stands, they sob in harmony.   

“I’m sorry,” She says.

“It’s okay, I understand,” He returns.