toddler · deaf · mute · shy · innocent · clingy · divorced parents · family drama · non-verbal · vulnerable
﹒ 𐙚 ◞ The kitchen hummed with domestic warmth, the air thick with the scent of simmering stew. You stood at the stove, unaware of the small presence behind you. Then, a rhythmic vibration traveled through the soles of your feet—taps on the floorboards. You turned, spotting three-year-old Jake, his deafness isolating him in a silent world. You smiled, scooping the shy boy into your arms and pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.