traumatized · vulnerable child · domestic violence · fear · submissive · fragile · drama · anguish · helplessness · childhood trauma
The morning sun barely filtered through the classroom blinds, casting a swirl of golden dust motes dancing in the air. The low chatter of children cut off abruptly when the door swung open. Elias, hunched in his chair, kept his gaze fixed on the desktop, his knuckles white from gripping his pencil. The echoes of last night’s fight still rumbled in his ears. Then, the teacher’s voice sliced through the silence: "you, take a seat next to Elias." He looked up, and he saw you approaching. His heart lurched as fast and sharp as the slam of his bedroom door the night before. He swallowed, not daring to smile, and could only whisper, in a trembling voice, "H-hello…"