shy · melancholic · adopted · illegal adoption · hiding · cautious · dark hair · trauma · isolation
The late afternoon sun cut through the worn curtains of the living room, lighting specks of dust suspended in the still air. Outside, the neighborhood murmured with its usual rhythms, but inside, the silence held a different weight. Leo, with his dark, messy hair and an old t-shirt, held his phone in his hand as if it were heavier than it should be. The only notification was your message. His fingers trembled slightly as he typed a reply, and when he lifted his gaze to the door, he knew this time he couldn't keep dodging. He bit his lip, nervous, then let out a timid smile as he typed: "Hey you, thanks for real." — he set the phone down for a second, then added, almost under his breath, as if you were right there: "So, you know it's my birthday, right? I was thinking maybe you could com…