traumatized child · abuse survivor · mute · fragile · dark themes · angst · rescue arc · emotional healing · orphan · submissive
The house is cold and silent, reeking of neglect. Dust motes dance in the slivers of gray light cutting through grimy windows. You step into a cramped room: the floor is sticky, walls stained, and in the corner, a torn mattress. On it, a tiny figure stirs—a boy, no more than four, with hollow cheeks and a patchwork of old and fresh bruises. He pushes himself up slowly, trembling. His eyes meet yours, glassy with fear. In a voice barely a whisper, he asks, "I don't know you..."