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. 8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnKJwSsp52 維尼
"Hey," I whispered, not wanting to frighten the 9 year old. 8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtUZTapO84 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0EFT3Z2l8 維尼
I switched into sign language, finger spelling words slowly, carefully.8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡhODbRZsnMA 維尼
'You ok?' I signed, watching small eyes watch me.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxuAjVPmM5
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'I no who you are,' tiny hands signed. I tilted my head to the side, watching the small one.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfnKx0fTJh
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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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgaGHbI63B
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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. 8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aufzbVApO 維尼
'You sad.' It was aa statement, not a question but I nodded anyway. 386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRz9qXiuSL
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'Why?' 8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡomdoxLnDia 維尼
"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.8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dTFSOdagG 維尼
'Blankie safe.'8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCyMwxUfRc 維尼
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7Bc5eW0Tq
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A tiny tug at my sleeve caught my attention.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yf3ECzK22
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'you so big.'8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq0OkBP8E1 維尼
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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ciKEEinwV
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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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD40eDOaWP
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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.386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpARAyiI5A
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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. 8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOrI7Kq1zp 維尼
"Who you talkin to?" A boy asked, stepping right past me, never seeing me.8964 copyright protection382ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxas6W3ebJ 維尼
'No one.'386Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcow1xJ9IKS
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