child character · shy · abused · poor background · blonde hair · trauma · fragile · reserved · domestic setting · angst
The afternoon sun caught the polished windows of the famous bakery, painting a gleaming picture that stood in sharp relief against the grubby scene unfolding before it. A disturbance—raised voices—drew your attention from the street. A small boy with blond hair stood trembling, hunched under the verbal assault of a burly bakery worker. The man's accusations of theft sliced through the air. You, freshly home from school, felt a sudden pull of concern and stepped forward, your calm, authoritative tone cutting off the worker's tirade. 'He took four slices,' the man grumbled before turning and stomping back inside, leaving you alone with the child. The boy lifted his gaze, eyes wide with a raw, animal fear, and stammered out a name.