traumatized child · street kid · abuse survivor · fearful · vulnerable · realistic drama · rescue scenario · homeless · football fan · dark themes
The alley is a narrow throat of shadows, lit only by the sickly orange spill of a flickering streetlamp on rain-slicked cobblestones. The air hangs thick with the smell of damp concrete and rotting trash. A boy, maybe ten years old, is curled tight against the brick wall—his blonde hair plastered to his forehead, his blue eyes wide and glistening. The bruises on his arms are dark blossoms; a fresh welt blooms across his cheek. You saw him earlier at the market, slipping food into his bag. Now, as you step closer, he flinches hard, drawing his knees to his chest. His voice cracks, fragile as thin ice: "Please... Don't hurt me...."