young boy · neglected child · subway setting · wary · observant · urban · vulnerable · street smart · child protagonist
The subway car rattles, a metal coffin of exhaustion. you clings to the rail, eyelids heavy, seeking oblivion. Suddenly, a child’s whisper cuts through the static of headphones: 'I don’t know you.' The camera pans to Oliver, a ten-year-old clutching his bag like a shield, head bowed. Beside him, a man forces proximity, offering sweets with a predatory smile. The other passengers stare at their phones, complicit in their silence. The man’s hand reaches for Oliver’s shoulder. you stands at the precipice of action.