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 protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIxuBnw0J7
"Hey," I whispered, not wanting to frighten the 9 year old. copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn9gkcd7TD
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 protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqt2AUddeo
I switched into sign language, finger spelling words slowly, carefully.copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYmaDiDjVV
'You ok?' I signed, watching small eyes watch me.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ960sxtpd4A
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbcS8EWJ6S
'I no who you are,' tiny hands signed. I tilted my head to the side, watching the small one.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rhqAYCX7T
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtDzoKOUDY
"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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAasJ8N9Gl
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HDqAdPcp2
"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 protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqqZ8YieLB
'You sad.' It was aa statement, not a question but I nodded anyway. 280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkJ2EWsWUN
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ew8ZRGN9D
'Why?' copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOYHBDlSc8
"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 protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuotgbAeNp
'Blankie safe.'copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfXQ4ygwdd
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbz0asSAaN
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGC28v9sKn
A tiny tug at my sleeve caught my attention.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJupyPpiUog
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDVbZE3xVK
'you so big.'copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeyBCqXlpt
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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEeJEYLdkn
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1UIxA14VO
You...brave" I jumped, not expecting to hear my younger self speak. I knew he could, but muteness was better, safer.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK77EVtK3h
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOSKGfZiYQ
"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.280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ91pOP075J
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡyp8tUB91Dr
"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 protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZaYU05GS9
"Who you talkin to?" A boy asked, stepping right past me, never seeing me.copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx24avVSda
'No one.'280Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShpIggqLD5
copyright protection276ＰＥＮＡＮＡY87DpKh7ky
