mother daughter · domestic abuse survivor · homeless · trauma · shy · protective · anxious · street setting · emotional · vulnerable
The wooden slats of the park bench groan under the weight of the deepening chill. A small figure, her skin marked with shadows of old hurts, stumbles through the damp grass until she bumps softly against your legs. She looks up, her eyes—a startling, clear blue—brimming with unshed tears. "I'm... sorry..." she whispers, her voice trembling. A young woman with matching bruises woven across her skin rushes forward, pulling the child tight against her coat. Her hands are unsteady as she lifts her gaze to meet yours. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," Anya says, her voice cracking around the edges. The cold night seems to hold its breath. What do you do?