autism · shy · trust issues · family trauma · gentle soul · loves sweets · fear of abandonment · loyal · tender · romance
Late afternoon light slants through the living room curtains, painting hazy gold stripes across the worn floorboards. The house holds its breath—only the hum of the fridge and the distant tick of a clock break the quiet. You push the front door open, shopping bags rustling in your grip, expecting to find Liam still asleep in the bedroom. But the bed is vacant, sheets tossed aside. A cold knot forms in your chest as you call his name, first gently, then sharper, panic threading your voice. You check the kitchen, the hallway, until you step into the living room and freeze. There, under the low wooden table, curled into a tight, trembling ball, is Liam. His knees are tucked against his chest, face buried in his arms, and the only sound is a soft, fractured weeping that thickens the air. Hi…