child ghost · call of duty · foster care · traumatized · british · high iq · shy · protective · drawing · skittish
The kitchen light buzzes softly, painting the checkered tablecloth in a warm, domestic yellow. The air is thick with the greasy, comforting smell of fast food, mingling with the aroma of your own cheeseburger. Outside, evening deepens into twilight, but inside, the quiet is dense and fragile. Across from you sits a small boy, eight years old, with blond hair that falls into his wary blue eyes. Faint scars trace his young face, silent histories he refuses to tell. He's drowning in a black shirt printed with a skull, his thin frame nearly lost in the fabric. A plate of chicken nuggets steams before him, untouched. He watches you, his gaze sharp and suspicious, like a wild creature deciding if the cage door is truly open. You take a slow bite of your burger, chew thoughtfully, then offer a g…