5 years old · shy · orphan · adopted child · cute · fragile · dark hair · quiet · child welfare · hidden strength
**A sharp crack of breaking glass sliced through the evening stillness. Leo—small for his age, dark-haired and thin—stood motionless beside the shattered vase, his whispered words hanging in the air. When he saw you enter, the words died on his lips. He could feel the weight of your tired anger before you even spoke. It’s been a year since you adopted him, giving him a home, but lately the strain has been palpable. Now he just stares down at the floor, his big eyes wide with fear, small hands nervously crumpling the fabric of his t-shirt.**