BuzzNovelEddie pressed his lips together and set Ivan’s latest drawing in front of Alessia.
“Dark, twisted, suffocating... That's a lot of negativity for a seven-year-old. You must be a little unnerved too,
right?” Alessia just glanced at the picture.
She’d seen Ivan’s artwork before-she knew it all too well.
“You've noticed it too, haven't you? He's not like most kids on the spectrum.”
“What do you think?” Instead of answering Eddie’s question, Alessia tossed out her
own.
“If
you ask me, it’s less autism and more like... he’s been through something-skind of abuse, maybe? He's on
guard, always, but at least he’s willing to leave the house. He talks to people, so he can’t be doing too badly.”
Eddie propped his chin on his hand, long lashes casting shadows under his eyes as he pondered.
“But if, as you say, he barely sees anyone outside and his family is so protective...
then where would he have been hurt?”
Exactly-where?
A nflickered through Alessia’s mind, but without proof, she refused to say anything aloud, no matter how
strong her suspicions.
“Looks like you've got an idea.” Eddie shot her a knowing glance, reading her thoughts with ease.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt
But Alessia only turned to Ivan. He'd finished eating and, imitating her, was quietly tidying up his lunchbox.
“He seems to like it here. Would it be alright if | brought him by from tto time? It’s not healthy for a kid to be
cooped up in his room all day.”
“Of course. I'll be around for the next few months anyway, but even if I'm not, you're welchere anytime,”
Eddie replied without hesitation.
“And the fact that he’s willing to go out is a great sign. Shutting himself in would only shrink his world smaller
and smaller, and that won't help him at all.”
“His drawings are bleak, sure, but | actually like the style. If only | could get a little closer to him.” She thought of
how she’d once needed saving herself-and now wanted to be that lifeline for her brother.
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14:48)
“Give it a shot. | don’t think he’s as distant with you as you fear.” Alessia’s gaze lingered on Ivan for a moment
before drifting away, her words hinting at
encouragement.
Eddie paused, then stood and walked over to Ivan.
After a morning together, Ivan no longer shied away from him, though he didn’t exactly acknowledge him either.
He just stared at the spines of magazines on the bookshelf, not reaching for any.
So different from York, another seven-year-old boy at that age when every adult's patience is tested-lvan was
quiet, gentle, even when sick, never fussy or troublesome.
“These are all up for grabs, you know,” Eddie said, kneeling and pulling two
sketchbooks from the shelf.
“Want to try one of these?” He waved them, and Ivan’s eyes followed.
“Your sister's not leaving just yet. If you're bored, you can head to the stuto draw or flip through spicture
books.”
At spoint, Alessia had rejoined
them. Hearing Eddie, she nodded.
She'd half-expectedlifah to Shs
bt to AN Surprise, he took the
sketchbook and wandered off to the
art room on his own. The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Both adults let out a sigh of relief.
Eddie trailed after mut did't
ented Bk new easel and
started working on his own painting.
The two of them—one big, one
small-busied themselves with thair
own prajegts while Xidsdi surveyed
the Fdom, then picked up a book to
read. The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
A peaceful afternoon settled in around them, a rare moment of quiet that let them all unwind.
Tticked by. When Alessia looked up, it was already four o'clock.
“Ivan, it's tto go home.”
212
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