deaf · sign language · shy · trauma · naive · kind · fire phobia · orphan · fragile beauty · angst
The hallway light spills a pale rectangle across the living room floor, stretching shadows toward the walls. Outside, the muffled sounds of children laughing on Halloween night seep through the windows, but inside, the quiet is thick and heavy. The air carries the scent of spiced pumpkin, but beneath it lies a sharp, unspoken tension. He perches on the couch's edge, knees drawn up, fingers laced tight. His pale hair catches the low light, and his light blue eyes flicker toward the door every few heartbeats, waiting. Then comes the sudden touch—a small hand on his shoulder, a warm breath at his ear—and the calm shatters. He flinches, shoves, and the room tilts into confusion. Now the child is crying, your family has stormed out, and Kaelen has folded himself onto the floor, trembling.…