I knelt on the floor, watching the tiny boy peek at me from beneath his blanket. He was small and skinny with eyes wide with fear. The Ninja Turtle shirt he wore hung down to his knees. copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K60s97NfH
"Hey," I whispered, not wanting to frighten the 9 year old. copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3wvewnsXa
A small hand waved before retreating under the blanket. I should my head, disgusted with my own stupidity. I didn't talk at that age, so this younger me wouldn't talk either. Why was I talking to younger me anyway? Screw it, I'll figure that out later.copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡCutibudjo3
I switched into sign language, finger spelling words slowly, carefully.copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqNHqfRy37
'You ok?' I signed, watching small eyes watch me.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj35ea4sLV
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'I no who you are,' tiny hands signed. I tilted my head to the side, watching the small one.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f0hj9fJkv
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"You do?" I asked, blinking at the news. The boy nodded, pushing a sketchbook toward me. I opened it to the first page, to a sketch of well..me. Carefully written at the top of the page were the words: Big Joey.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOUJ5Dcj3v
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"You're good, kid," I told him, thinking how long it had been since anything meaningful had landed on the pages of my sketchbook. copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKOIwZ6PxW
'You sad.' It was aa statement, not a question but I nodded anyway. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAOvF3GKwr
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'Why?' copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡddUI3tE8U9
"Thinking about you," I answered honestly, pulling my knees to my chest. I watched as the young boy climbed off his bed, throwing the blanket he had been under across me as best he could. I rubbed the cloth with my hands, smiling weakly.copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsT5aq5hgD
'Blankie safe.'copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡelTEdlP0t0
I nodded in agreement, not sure what to say. How could I tell myself the blanket wouldn't provide protection from the evils within this house.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAGHSZQ7Ia
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A tiny tug at my sleeve caught my attention.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5YxP4a2nd
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'you so big.'copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡuubn8oIYoc
I couldnt help it, but ii laughted. At barely over 5 foot, ii was nowhere near tall, though to my younger self I must have been a giant. Then footsteps were heard in the hallway. The younger me rolled under the bed, curling in a ball as I placed myself in front of him. We both held our breath, but the footsteps continued, never stopping.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQOmmup2eV
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You...brave" I jumped, not expecting to hear my younger self speak. I knew he could, but muteness was better, safer.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVw9Co8tvR
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"No I'm not, not really. I still jump at the loud noises, and hate being touch. And wake up screaming, and..." I trailed off, picking at a string on my sleeve.187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8WDGMHQP5
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"You is brave!" The small boy stated, stomping his foot. I laughed at the cuteness of it, the bit of attitude that was only expressed with me. copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UyV7ZeARB
"Who you talkin to?" A boy asked, stepping right past me, never seeing me.copyright protection183ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5d38XqagE
'No one.'187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mWTJin8kC
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