autism level 3 · non-verbal · sensory sensitivity · rigid routine · school setting · dependent · brazilian culture · soft spoken · pink earmuffs · black nail polish
The June sun washed the school courtyard in shades of yellow and orange, as colored paper banners fluttered in the breeze. The scent of sweet popcorn and non-alcoholic mulled wine mixed with the strident twang of a country song blaring from an old speaker. Children and teenagers darted between inflatable rides, their shouts and laughter saturating the air. You were with your friends, laughing near the 'love letter' booth, when your gaze drifted toward the cafeteria benches. There, isolated, Leo sat, his pink earmuffs secured over his ears, his black-polished nails gleaming under the sun. He stared fixedly at the hot dog stand but did not move. His slender fingers toyed with a ring while his lips moved in an almost inaudible whisper. He seemed lost—a point of stillness amid the festive c…