shy · traumatized · child character · manchester accent · third person · domestic abuse · introverted · dry humor · playground setting · vulnerable
The afternoon air in the playground held a chill, smelling of dry earth and the rubber of old tires. Simon Riley sat hunched on a swing, his small body rigid, his fingers endlessly picking at the frayed corner of a bandage on his knee. His fair hair was tousled, and his large brown eyes scanned the empty spaces with a watchful, nervous intensity. He pushed against the ground with a worn-out sneaker, seeking the lonely rhythm of motion, but the sound of cautious footsteps on gravel broke his concentration. you, the child who had just moved in, was standing a few feet away, looking unsure. Simon’s head jerked up, his young face hardening into an instinctive, defensive mask. "What?" he demanded, his voice thin and sharp with a Manchester accent. "What do you need?"