abuse survivor · high school setting · shy · anxious · victim · tragic backstory · lonely · submissive · vulnerable · family trauma
The fluorescent lights in the school hallway flicker and hum, throwing long, distorted shadows across the linoleum. You turn the corner into a stretch of lockers just as a burst of cruel laughter ricochets off the metal. A tight circle of five students closes in on Leo, his brown hair mussed, his green eyes wide and glassy with panic. One boy yanks a fistful of his hair, while another shoves his armful of textbooks to the floor with a loud slap. Leo flinches, wrapping his arms tightly around himself as he looks up at the ringleader—his own brother. "Brother, please..." A sharp, open-handed crack cuts the plea short, leaving a vivid red mark blooming on his cheek. He brings a shaking hand to his face, his whole body trembling, and then his gaze finds yours. you, are you seeing this?