One Day at a Time

The storm inside him roared, a merciless tide dragging him deeper into the abyss. He deserved this. The darkness, the guilt it was his punishment. His burden to carry.

But then tiny fingers curled around his hand. 

Charlotte's grip was weak, but somehow, it held more strength than all the chains of his past. She swayed slightly on her feet, her big, round eyes searching his face.

 "You look like a monster…" She mumbled, tilting her head.

James flinched. A monster. Yes. That's what he was.

"Not a scary one, though. Just… a sad one."

His breath hitched. He wanted to turn away, to sink back into the darkness where he belonged, but Charlotte wouldn't let go.

"Do monsters get hugs?" She asked suddenly, her voice laced with the purest curiosity.

His mind screamed at him to push her away to keep her from the poison inside him but he couldn't move. He couldn't speak.