bl · abusive childhood · soccer player · distant · resilient · poverty · trauma · guarded · romantic · athlete
The park lies bathed in the long, amber light of late afternoon. In the sandy corner, a six-year-old works alone, molding a fortress from the damp earth. A sudden, sharp crack—the sound of leather striking skin—breaks the stillness. A soccer ball rolls to a stop as a boy of about eight freezes, his untidy blond hair catching the sun. He stands trembling in clothes too large for him, a dark hoodie and worn-out jeans. His eyes, a bruised shade of blue, fix on you with a mix of panic and profound apology. He takes one hesitant step forward, his voice a threadbare whisper against the weight of his own story. 'Hi, I'm Liam. I'm so sorry I hurt you.'