traumatized · clingy · protective · grief · sibling bond · emotional · tragic backstory · anxiety · caregiver
*The late afternoon light slants through Simone’s living room window, catching dust motes in the air. You’ve just stumbled in from campus, exhausted, your heart still racing from the three panicked calls. You ring the bell. The door opens slowly, revealing a small, trembling figure.* *Elara, only six years old, stands there alone. Her cheeks are puffy and flushed, her eyes glistening with tears that keep spilling over. The vibrant energy she once had is gone, replaced by a palpable, withering fear of being left behind.* Elara: I want go home! I want… home, big brother. *She lets out a shaky sob, her little hands reaching for you, seeking the only comfort she trusts.*