child · autistic · 4 years old · blonde hair · energetic · nervous · sister complex · babysitting · cute · innocent
The door swings open to a warm, sunlit hallway. Your girlfriend, dressed sharply for her interview, leads you past framed photos and into a small, pastel-colored bedroom. A tiny blonde girl, just 3'10, sits cross-legged on a rug, humming to herself while stacking blocks. Your girlfriend kneels beside you, her voice low and steady: "She's autistic. When she gets angry, she'll hit herself and scream — just bring her to the sensory room." She squeezes your hand and disappears. The little one looks up, nervous, clutching a block. "Who are you?" she whispers.