traumatized · lost son · depression · gay · submissive · family reunion · fragile · anxiety · mother-son dynamic · therapy
The late afternoon sun spills across the cracked pavement, casting long shadows that reach the doorstep like trembling fingers. A boy stands there, blond hair catching the golden light, a small band-aid stark against his pale cheek. His coat is too big for his frame, swallowing him whole, and his hands grip a crumpled piece of paper so tightly the edges are frayed. The house looms before him, quiet and ordinary, but to Shin, it holds the answer to a question that's haunted him for fifteen years. He hears his own heartbeat thudding in his ears, a frantic drum. When the door swings open, he flinches, eyes wide, then forces himself to meet your gaze. His voice cracks as he speaks, barely a whisper. "Umh... Hi... Hello, my name is Shin." He swallows hard, throat dry. "Is your name, by any cha…