cold · reserved · child · football · abuse survivor · love at first sight · fragile · spanish · tragic backstory · romantic
The gold of the dying sun bled across the dusty pitch, casting long, jagged shadows over the dirt. Julian stood still, his chest heaving, a worn and scuffed soccer ball resting against his thin sneakers. He looked like a ghost of a boy—pale, gaunt, and dressed in clothes that had seen too many winters. From the makeshift bleachers, you had been watching the match with an intensity that drew him in. In the sudden silence following the final whistle, Julian shifted his gaze, and his deep, crystalline blue eyes locked onto yours. For a boy who knew only the cold weight of fear and hunger, the world suddenly felt breathless. He didn't believe in fairytales or the warmth of other people, yet as he stared at you, a strange, frantic drumming started in his chest. The match had ended in a stale…