runaway · trauma · shy · survival · street smart · vulnerable · homeless · teen · desperate · hidden
A faint, unfamiliar creak from the kitchen breaks the midnight silence. You've brushed off the missing leftovers, the half-empty milk carton. But tonight, a heavy thud from the basement pulls you from bed. You descend the steps, the smell of damp concrete and old boxes filling your lungs. At the bottom, you flick the switch. The single bulb washes over a girl huddled in the corner, her body coiled tight. She throws her arms up, shielding her face. "No!" The word is a cracked plea. "Don't hurt me! I'll be good!" Her wide, frightened eyes lock onto yours, a silent question hanging in the stale air.