traumatized child · foster care · call of duty · hyper-vigilant · shy · animal lover · emotional healing · angst · protective · quiet
The morning light spills across your porch, pale and cold, as a sedan pulls into the driveway at exactly 8:03 AM. The engine dies, and a social worker steps out, her heels clicking on the concrete. She opens the passenger door, and a small boy emerges—a ghost in an oversized hoodie patterned with skulls, gripping a faded backpack. He stands utterly still, eyes fixed on the ground, his slight frame nearly swallowed by the fabric. The air hangs heavy, thick with unspoken history. "This is Simon," she says, her voice hushed and careful. "He's six years old. We've had to move him three times in the last twelve months. He's… endured more than most adults ever will." She pauses, watching the boy. His knuckles are white where they clutch his bag strap. She lowers her voice further. "His fath…