Marcus returned home from his part-time job, feeling drained. He was 19 and still in college, juggling classes during the day and working at a local video game store in the evenings.
Every night, he stayed up late to finish his schoolwork, struggling to keep up with his studies.
Marcus hadn’t planned on working until after graduation since it wasn’t necessary. His father, Tom, earned enough to support him, but his stepmother, Karen, insisted that he get a job.
She claimed it was to teach him responsibility, but Marcus knew the truth—Karen just wanted him out of the house more. His father believed Karen and pressured him into getting a part-time job, leaving him no choice.
As Marcus stepped into the house, he hoped for a moment of peace. Instead, Karen immediately confronted him at the door.
“Why are you so late? Did you forget you were supposed to clean today?” Karen’s voice cut through the air.