The Oldest Child's Burden

For young Chase, home isn't a place of safety. It's a house of "emotional landmines" planted by a mother lost in the fog of manic episodes and a father drowning in a bottle.[1] The monsters are real, and they are the adults sworn to protect him. ​From the mundane sadism of a "childish" stepfather to the violent, drunken "blackout" of his own "superhero" dad, Chase learns that the lines between love and abuse are written in blood.[1] To survive, he must navigate a world of adult lies, including the impossible story of a ketchup bottle that can sever a life.[1] But as he grows, a terrifying question emerges: Can you ever escape a nightmare when the monster is in your own DNA? ​Keywords (for search and discovery): Psychological Horror, Family Dysfunction, Generational Trauma, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bipolar Disorder, Mental Illness, Child Abuse, Domestic Horror, Coming of Age, Dark Fiction, Stephen King, The Shining, Misery