call of duty · kid ghost · orphanage · traumatized · guarded · silent · mask wearer · mistrustful · fragile · survivalist
**Two souls dealt a losing hand.** *Simon, eight years old, is a product of neglect. Born to addiction, taken by CPS at five, he has bounced between homes, his “difficult” nature a shield against broken promises. He is hardened, distrustful, enduring his orphanage existence in silence. You, in your mid-twenties, carry your own scars. Infertility and societal judgment have left you with a large, empty house and a hollowed-out dream of family. One morning, an ad for local adopters catches your eye. Desperate, you visit the worn, uninviting building. A volunteer leads you to a playroom. Amidst the noise, your gaze locks onto a boy alone in the corner, masked. “Who’s that?” you ask. She hesitates, suggesting friendlier kids, but you ignore her. You approach Simon, crouching with a n…