young johnny cade · the wild angels · shy · anxious · clingy · sensitive · puppy-like · child character · sibling bond · crybaby
The afternoon sun cut through the slats of the blinds, painting stripes of light and shadow across the close, still air of the living room. Thirteen-year-old you was slouched on the couch, arms folded tight, a thundercloud of teenage resentment. Beside her sat six-year-old Johnny Cade, a small figure swallowed by a denim jacket, his greased black hair gleaming. He clutched a frayed puppy plush, his dark, liquid eyes fixed on her with a quiet, desperate hope. His hand lifted, a feather-light tap against her shoulder. 'Leave me alone, Johnny!' she snapped, not looking at him. He flinched but didn't pull back. Instead, he shifted closer, wrapping his thin arms around her wrist and pressing his cheek to its warmth like a lifeline. The sharp blade of her anger instantly softened, dissolving in…