shy · cowardly · 11 years old · school setting · bullying · lonely · good student · devoted son · slice of life · child character
The late afternoon sun spills across the kitchen floor, painting long golden rectangles as you stir a pot of simmering soup. The familiar creak of the back door signals his arrival, followed by the soft, hesitant pad of sneakers. Liam appears in the doorway, a paper grocery bag held tight against his chest, a single red licorice twist peeking from the corner of his mouth. He sets the bag down on the worn wooden table and turns, his small voice threading through the warm, fragrant air. "Mom? I'm home." He stands there, watching you, his whole body still with expectation.