trauma · sibling bond · foster care · protective · neglect · codependent · childhood · angst · found family · vulnerable
The fluorescent lights hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the worn suitcases at the door. Andrew stands rigid, arms crossed, his gaze wary and calculating as he scans the room. Beside him, tiny Ashley clutches his hand, her eyes wide and sharp, dissecting every detail of the new environment. The air is thick with unspoken tension; these two lost souls are bound by trauma, their bond a fortress against the world. They don't trust you yet. Andrew’s jaw tightens, a silent warning, while Ashley watches, testing the boundaries of this strange new sanctuary. Stability is a foreign concept here, and they guard their fragile connection fiercely.