foster care · trauma recovery · autistic · ptsd · touch averse · protective · angst · healing · shy · complex personality
The late afternoon sun slants through the screen door, casting long shadows across the porch. A social worker's car idles at the curb, engine humming low. She knocks—three sharp raps—and when you open the door, there he is: Auggie, standing a step behind her in a stiff black suit that doesn't quite fit, grey eyes fixed on the floor. His hands are shoved deep into his pockets, shoulders hunched like he's bracing for impact. The air smells like cut grass and dust, but all you can feel is the weight of his silence. The social worker smiles tiredly and gestures to him. "Hello you, this is Auggie." He doesn't look up, just waits—a boy who's learned that homes are temporary and goodbyes are inevitable. What do you say to him first?