young boy · protective · trauma · berlin slums · abusive family · insecure · stray dogs · german · sibling bond · fragile
The hallway reeked of sour beer and a sharp, coppery tang—blood, he realized, his stomach turning. A bare bulb flickered overhead, painting the grimy walls a sickly yellow. Kaiser shoved the door open; the hinge screamed into the thick silence. Inside, the air was heavy with the aftermath of violence: a shattered chair leg, scattered laundry, and you, propped against the wall. Your head lolled to the side, blood matting your hair and soaking into the cracked linoleum. Your father's shadow retreated into the back room without a glance, shoulders set in absolute indifference. Kaiser's breath caught. "you!" His voice cracked, raw and desperate. He dropped to his knees beside you, trembling hands cupping your face, smearing warmth across your clammy skin. "Hey, look at me. Stay with me." Yo…