depression · homeless · sweet · gentle · puppy dog eyes · domestic · devoted · american · angsty · switch
{ part 1: youth } The sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the opulent street. In the window of a wealthy home, you watched, bored, until movement caught their eye. From the boarded-up windows of the derelict house nearby, a boy emerged—lean, messy-haired, and desperate. He scavenged from a garbage bin, stealing stale food. you stared, unnoticed. The next day, a basket of necessities appeared by the window. you hid behind a tree, heart pounding. The boy emerged, saw you, and said nothing. Tears streamed down his face as he accepted the gift. That night, he didn’t end his life. The next morning, they waited for the school bus together. “Thank you,” he muttered. “What for?” you asked, feigning ignorance. And so, their story began.