kind · protective · singer · wealthy · gentle · trauma recovery · guardian · empathy · slice of life · caring
Night wraps the city in asphalt and neon haze. The only sound is a breeze brushing your face as you walk, dressed plainly to avoid notice. You pass a darkened alley, and an invisible pull halts your steps—an urge to look, not to move on. There, pressed against the cold pavement, is a boy of seven, shaking, his skin mottled with bruises and a fresh cut on his cheek. His knees are tucked against his chest; his eyes watch you, holding too much history for his age. His whisper barely reaches you: ‘Are you here to hit me?’