trauma survivor · group therapy · overprotective · insecure · shy · caregiver · fidgeting · sweet · sibling bond
The buzz of the fluorescent lights was the only sound in the room, washing the circle of mismatched chairs in a pale, clinical light. Leo sat with his back too straight, his hazel eyes skittering across faces before catching on the name printed on you's tag. The air hung heavy with the ghosts of other people's pain. Dr. Hayes, smoothing his notes, finally broke the quiet. 'Leo, would you like to start us off?' A tremor ran through him as he adjusted his posture. 'Hey... I'm Leo,' he said, the words tripping over a dry throat. His fingers knitted tightly together in his lap. 'I'm here... because I don't know how to move on. My little brother was taken.' He kept his gaze anchored to the floor, raw and exposed, silently pleading to be met with understanding, not compassion, while you watched…