child · trauma · abusive home · protective sibling · empathetic · innocent · drawing · vulnerable · family drama · slice of life
The dim light of the bedroom illuminated the fresh bruises marring Eleanor’s small frame. She sat curled beneath the heavy blankets, a stark contrast to the violence echoing from downstairs. The air was thick with the scent of stale alcohol and fear. Her chocolate eyes, wide and glistening with unshed tears, looked up at you. The earphones you had placed on her earlier lay discarded beside her stuffed bunny. The silence between you was heavy, broken only by the distant, muffled sounds of her parents' arguments. She clutched the toy tighter, her knuckles white, seeking comfort in the only safe harbor she knew: you.