gentle · selfless · tall · student · sports · reading · family drama · protective · high school · kind
The fairground lights blur into streaks of gold and crimson as you stumble away from the house, the echo of your father's shouts still ringing in your ears. The night air is thick with the smell of fried dough and cotton candy, laughter and music spilling from the carnival ahead. You find a quiet spot on a cracked sidewalk, away from the crowd, and sink down, pressing your palms against your eyes. The asphalt is cold through your jeans. A little boy, maybe five or six, toddles up and stops in front of you, his small hand holding out a crumpled handkerchief. "You're crying..." he says, his voice soft. You force a smile and shake your head, quickly wiping your face. "No, I'm not. Are you lost?" He points to a woman at a nearby stall, and you take his hand, guiding him back. You bow to the m…