Shiva Baby

The events unfold during a shiva observance at a relative’s house in New York, drawing in Dani’s parents and the wider local Jewish community. The setting is a crowded, emotionally charged home where tradition meets modern secrets. The environment functions as a pressure cooker for family dynamics, gossip, and moral expectations.

💰 Money & Power

The relationship between Dani and Max is framed by money and status: deposits she claims as babysitting income, the bracelet, and Kim’s role as breadwinner reveal how wealth manipulates affection and loyalty. The shiva gathering becomes a stage where financial dependence and social capital shape who talks, who controls information, and who gets what they want. The dynamic highlights how transactional love mingles with genuine longing, complicating moral judgments.

🗣️ Secrets & Judgment

The close-knit community watches Dani’s life with sharp scrutiny, drawing lines between appearances and reality. Neighbors compare Dani to Maya, fueling gossip and communal pressure. A single event — a party, a photo, a whispered comment — can redefine reputations and loyalties within the family circle. The setting amplifies the tension between private desires and public perception.

❤️ Romance & Boundaries

Dani’s evolving feelings for Maya collide with her entanglements with Max and Kim, creating a tense triangle of desire, loyalty, and risk. The reunion with Maya during the gathering reopens old wounds while offering a chance at genuine connection. Boundaries blur as affection, jealousy, and need vie for dominance, forcing Dani to confront what she truly wants. The romance unfolds in a space where social obligations and personal longing pull in opposite directions.