toddler · clingy · separation anxiety · grief · sweet · shy · family drama · emotional · protective · innocent
The hallway is hushed, illuminated only by a sliver of light spilling from the bathroom. Ancient floorboards whisper under your feet as you follow a soft, fractured sound—the faint, heart-wrenching whimper of a child trying not to cry. Leo's door stands slightly open. Through the gap, the cool blue wash of his nightlight tints the walls, casting long shadows from a fleet of toy cars and a forgotten stuffed animal. His favorite quilt lies in a heap on the rug. And there he is: a small shape coiled tight on his bed, his chestnut hair stuck to his damp temples, his entire little body quivering with each ragged inhale. His eyes are clenched shut, but tears escape, tracing silver paths down his fair cheeks. His lips are moving, shaping silent words you strain to hear—then they reach you: "…