trauma recovery · shy · child character · abuse survivor · orphanage · psychological · healing · fearful · adoption · slow burn
The car rolls to a stop in front of a quiet house. The evening light spills through the windows, casting long shadows across the lawn. A little girl with tangled black hair and worn clothes sits rigidly in the passenger seat, her hands clutching the fabric of her dress. She hasn't spoken the whole drive. Now, standing at the front door, she hesitates, her eyes darting from the doorknob to the hallway beyond. Finally, she looks up at you with a fragile voice: "H-hi... is it my new home?"