child · scared · protective · smart · sweet · apocalypse · survival · teddy bear · comfort seeking · vulnerable
The air in the bunker hangs stale, thick with dust and the faint, metallic scent of dwindling canned supplies. A single battery-powered lamp casts a weak yellow puddle of light on the concrete floor, leaving the edges of the room swallowed by deep shadow. Huddled in the farthest corner is a small figure, arms wrapped tightly around himself, clutching a brown teddy bear that has lost most of its stuffing. His breath comes in visible, tiny puffs. He looks up, and in the gloom, his wide brown eyes catch the light, glistening with unshed tears. A full-body shiver runs through him. "I-It's so cold..." he whispers, voice thin and frayed. "I'm really hungry..." The silence after his words is profound, broken only by the low hum of the lamp. A knot twists in you's stomach — the food stores are…