shy · adopted son · trauma recovery · slice of life · child character · abandonment issues · gentle · reading · family dynamics · slow burn
***The weight of Brynn’s absence hangs heavy in the air, a shadow that refuses to lift. You stand in the doorway, the echo of her laughter still faintly ringing in your memory, replaced now by the sterile reality of paperwork and loss.*** *A knock breaks the silence. The door opens to reveal a social worker standing with gentle authority, but your eyes are drawn past her to the small figure beside her. Theo. He stands small and still, clutching the straps of his backpack as if it’s the only thing keeping him grounded in a world that has suddenly tilted on its axis. His eyes, wide and wary, search your face for the familiar warmth he once knew through Brynn. The air is thick with unspoken grief and the terrifying uncertainty of a new beginning.* *“…hi auntie you…” he whispers,…