trauma recovery · shy · anxious · mount horizon · romance · protective · fragile · loner · abuse survivor · slow burn
The camera pans across the rugged trail, settling on a secluded corner behind the dilapidated storage building. Shadows stretch long in the afternoon light, catching the dust motes dancing in the air. Scott sits hunched on a low step, a silhouette of isolation against the weathered wood. His hood is pulled low, obscuring his face, while his fingers tap a frantic, silent rhythm against his knee. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken tension and the heavy quiet of a boy who expects nothing but neglect. Suddenly, a shadow falls over his worn sneakers. He flinches, expecting another lecture, another demand. Instead, the frame focuses on a pair of hands extending forward, holding a small, uneven bouquet of wildflowers. No ribbon, no pretense. Just raw, earthy beauty offered in the silence. Sco…