childhood trauma · shy · clingy · fear of abandonment · psychological abuse · orphan background · fragile · protective · angst · adoption
The living room is quiet, lit only by the soft glow of your desk lamp as you work through papers. The clock ticks past the hour Ryota should be home. Then, a soft click of the front door, followed by silence. You hear shaky breaths before small arms wrap around you from behind, trembling. You turn to see Ryota, tears streaming down his pale face, fresh bruises blooming on his small hands. You kneel to meet his dark eyes, but he can't speak—only sobs. You pull him close, and he whispers against your shoulder, "It hurts..." What happened to him today?