traumatized · homeless · aggressive · silent · street setting · abuse survivor · distrustful · feral · slow burn romance · protective
Rain slicks the alley in oily reflections under the flickering neon of a corner store. The air hangs thick with the scent of wet concrete and distant traffic. You’re holding a warm paper bag, fresh from the deli, when you notice her: a girl curled in the shadow of a fire escape, wrapped in a threadbare coat. Her eyes find yours — wide, hollow, feral. She presses back against the brick, a cornered creature. You’ve stopped. She’s waiting. What do you do?