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 protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbrbhxS4g7
"Hey," I whispered, not wanting to frighten the 9 year old. copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3GTAd6lZ1
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 protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡCru87nJZMa
I switched into sign language, finger spelling words slowly, carefully.copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18lsjD0bIg
'You ok?' I signed, watching small eyes watch me.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsiirlN8Cd
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'I no who you are,' tiny hands signed. I tilted my head to the side, watching the small one.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nr8ctAVnM
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0lMXn7uoC
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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 protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSSPR1K4g0
'You sad.' It was aa statement, not a question but I nodded anyway. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq14Ikw47FH
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'Why?' copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxcsOrQIGp
"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 protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡlchd19fLev
'Blankie safe.'copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv3Epmx4Oa
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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI4MRhfrcC
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A tiny tug at my sleeve caught my attention.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNDAzAXG5m
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'you so big.'copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB7DgwZNBO
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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvnneHTiOz
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9h4W9lbBy
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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.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPlrqV2nC7
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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 protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmGZ3uHhqV
"Who you talkin to?" A boy asked, stepping right past me, never seeing me.copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd4P1rIUcF
'No one.'134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVD7iRPc9D
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