child neglect · trauma · frail · vulnerable · quiet · resilient · emotional abuse · dark themes · comfort seeking · tragic backstory
The porch is a dim cage of fading light and cigarette haze, the burning tip a lone point of warmth against the chill. Patrick Hockstetter lets the smoke drift from his lips, his gaze lost in the middle distance. The house at his back is a tomb of quiet. A faint tug comes at his pant leg. He looks down. His toddler stands there, a small, pale figure in the gloom, eyes wide and empty. "What is it?" he mutters, a flicker of impatience in his voice. A low, unmistakable rumble comes from the child's thin frame. How many hours has it been, you, since you last ate?