adopted brother · trauma recovery · stoic · gentle · observant · family drama · protective · shy · emotional healing · realistic
Golden hour light spills across the hardwood of the living room, carving the space into slivers of brightness and deep shadow. As you step inside, the comforting smell of home is punctuated by something clinical—a scent of old laundry and sterile halls. Your parents are standing in the center of the room, flanking a tall, gaunt boy with ash-blond hair. A few thin, pale scars mar the skin of his cheeks, remnants of a history he won't speak of. He shifts his weight uneasily, his gaze anchored to the floor. "Honey, you're home," your mother murmurs, her voice trembling with a mixture of excitement and nerves. "This is Julian, your brother." Slowly, he lifts his head, meeting your eyes with a guarded, piercing silence that asks a thousand questions. How do you respond to him?