Wymack and Abby stood in the adoption agency office, holding hands as they waited. The door opened, and the social worker stepped in with Neil. He was small for his age, with wide, mistrustful eyes and a backpack slung over one thin shoulder. His clothes were too big, his hair was messy, and his face carried a wariness that no child should have. Even though they have already been informed by neil's past family, they couldn't believe about all that this kid had been through.
“This is Neil” the social worker said softly.
“Hi, Neil” Abby greeted warmly, her voice gentle as honey. She crouched to his level, smiling. “I’m Abby, and this is my husband, Wymack. We’re so excited to meet you.”
Neil didn’t say anything. He gripped the strap of his backpack tightly and stared at the floor.
Wymack cleared his throat. “Hey, kid. We’ve got a house, a big backyard, and plenty of space for you to settle in. Kevin, our son, is already excited to meet you.”
Neil still didn’t respond, but he gave the tiniest of nods. It was enough for Wymack and Abby to exchange a look-hopeful and determined.
When they arrived home, Kevin practically bounced out the front door to greet them. He was holding a exy stick and grinning ear to ear.
“Hi, Neil! I’m Kevin! I’m your brother now. Do you like exy? I can teach you if you want. Let's go play!
Neil looked overwhelmed. He clutched his backpack tighter and stepped back.
“Kevin” Wymack warned, firm.
“Sorry” Kevin said, deflating a little. “But I am really happy you’re here.”
Abby placed a hand on Neil’s shoulder, guiding him inside. “Let’s show you your room, sweetheart.”
Neil’s room was simple but cozy—a soft bed, shelves for books and toys, and a desk by the window. Neil walked in hesitantly, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting something bad to happen.
“It’s all yours,” Abby said. “You can decorate it however you like.”
Neil didn’t say anything, but he sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers brushing the soft blanket. Abby and Wymack gave him space.
The first few days were tough. Neil was quiet, withdrawn, and avoided physical contact. He ate little at meals, flinching if someone accidentally dropped a plate, raised their voice, or hand by mistake.
Kevin tried his best to include Neil, showing him his exy stick and talking about school. Neil would listen quietly but never joined in.
One evening, while Abby ironed clothes, Neil’s past caught up with him.
Abby stood in the laundry room, smoothing wrinkles out of a shirt with a hot iron. Neil, sitting on the couch nearby, suddenly froze when he saw the iron in her hand. His chest tightened, his breathing quickened, and he bolted without a word.
“Neil?” Abby called, alarmed. She set the iron down and followed him.
Wymack, hearing the commotion, joined her. They found the bathroom door shut, but there was no sound inside.
“Neil?” Wymack knocked softly. No answer.
They exchanged a worried glance before Wymack gently opened the door. The sight made Abby’s heart break. Neil was curled up inside the cabinet under the sink, his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, tears streaming silently down his face.
Wymack crouched down, keeping his voice soft and steady. “Hey kid It’s okay. You’re safe here. No one’s going to hurt you.”
Neil didn’t move, but his sobs quieted. Abby knelt beside Wymack, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“It’s just us, sweetheart,” Abby said gently. “You don’t have to be scared. We’re here for you.”
Neil hesitated before slowly crawling out. Abby wrapped her arms around him carefully, and Wymack placed a reassuring hand on his back.
Kevin peeked in, looking confused and worried. “Neil? Are you okay?”
Neil didn’t respond, but he let Abby hold him. For a moment, the family just stayed there, offering quiet comfort.
Later that night, Wymack and Abby sat together, their hearts heavy.
“We knew it would be hard,” Abby said softly, “but seeing him like that… it’s so much worse than I imagined.”
Wymack nodded, his jaw tight. “We’ll get through to him. We have to.”
Days turned into weeks, and Neil slowly began to settle in. He still avoided touch and rarely spoke, but he started to join Kevin during his exy drills, even if just to watch. Kevin, ever patient, didn’t push him, instead letting Neil come to him on his own terms.
Small breakthroughs happened - a quiet thank you, a hesitant smile, sitting closer during family movie nights. But there were still moments when Neil’s past would resurface, like when someone raised their voice too quickly or moved their hand too fast.
Each time, Abby and Wymack handled it with care, reassuring Neil that he was safe and loved.
It had been a month since Neil came to live with them, and Wymack and Abby had started noticing small changes. Neil still spoke very little, but he no longer flinched every time someone entered the room. He’d even started sitting next to Kevin during family movie nights, though he kept a cautious distance.
One Saturday afternoon, Abby suggested something new.
“How about we go to the toy store today?” she said, her voice bright and warm as they all sat around the breakfast table.
Neil paused mid-bite of his toast, his wide eyes darting to her, unsure if she was serious.
“You can pick out anything you want,” Wymack added. “A game, a toy, whatever catches your eye.”
Kevin, ever the excitable big brother, chimed in. “You should totally get something cool! Like an action figure or a Nerf gun. I can help you pick!”
Neil hesitated, looking down at his plate. “I don’t need anything” he said softly, his voice barely audible.
Abby leaned forward, her hand resting lightly on his. “It’s not about needing, sweetheart. It’s about what *you* want. You deserve something special, and we want to give it to you.”
At the toy store, Neil stayed close to Abby, his small hand clutching hers as they walked through the aisles. The colorful displays seemed to overwhelm him, and he shrank back slightly, his eyes flitting from one shelf to the next.
Kevin bounded ahead, holding up various toys. “What about this? Or this? Look, Neil, this one talks when you press a button!”
Neil didn’t respond, his gaze lingering on a shelf filled with stuffed animals. Slowly, he let go of Abby’s hand and approached.
Wymack and Abby exchanged a glance, their hearts warming as they watched Neil study the plush toys.
Then, Neil stopped in front of a small orange fox with soft, fluffy fur and big, shiny eyes, kind of reminding them of neil. He reached out hesitantly, as if afraid someone would tell him no.
“Do you like that one?” Abby asked gently, stepping beside him.
Neil nodded, clutching the fox to his chest. “Can I… have this one?”
It was the first time Neil had ever asked for anything, and Abby felt her throat tighten with emotion.
“Of course you can,” she said, her voice soft but full of love.
Wymack ruffled Neil’s hair, his usual gruffness replaced with a rare smile. “Good choice, kid. That fox looks like it’ll be a great friend.”
Kevin grinned. “You gotta name it! What are you gonna call him?”
Neil looked down at the plush fox in his arms, thinking for a moment before whispering, “king fluffkins"
“king fluffkins it is,” Kevin said through laughter and enthusiasm.
That night, Neil went to bed, clutching king fluffkins tightly. Abby peeked into his room before she turned in for the night and saw him fast asleep, the fox tucked securely in his arms.
She quietly closed the door and joined Wymack in the living room.
“He asked for something,” Abby said, her eyes shining with happy tears.
Wymack nodded, his voice gruff but full of pride. “Yeah. He’s starting to trust us.”
And from that night on, king fluffkins, the fox became Neil’s constant companion, a small but powerful symbol of the love and safety he was beginning to feel.
One sunny afternoon, Kevin suggested a pool day. Wymack agreed, thinking it would be good for Neil to relax.
Abby packed snacks and towels while Wymack set up inflatables. Neil stood by the pool’s edge, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt.
“You don’t have to swim if you don’t want to,” Abby said gently.
Neil hesitated before slowly pulling off his shirt.
The sight made Abby gasp softly. Neil’s back and shoulders were littered with scars—faint lines and faded bruises, already healing but it showed the force of the cause behind them, and a large burn on his shoulder shaped unmistakably like the flat end of an iron.
Abby turned away, tears streaming down her face. Wymack quickly followed her, his hand on her shoulder.
Meanwhile, Kevin approached Neil, his face full of concern. “Does it hurt?”
“No” Neil mumbled, looking down.
Kevin hesitated before saying, “I’m glad you’re here, Neil. And I promise, no one will ever hurt you again.”
Abby returned, wiping her tears, and smiled at Neil. “How about we teach you to swim, sweetheart?”
By the end of the day, Neil was splashing in the shallow end with Kevin, his laughter filling the air. For the first time, Neil began to feel safe.
One quiet evening, Neil hesitated before asking, “Can I call you Mom and Dad?”
Abby and Wymack’s hearts melted.
“Of course, sweetheart,” Abby said, pulling him into a hug.
Wymack grinned and ruffled Neil’s hair. “Yeah, kid. We’d love that.”
For the first time, Neil felt like he had a family—a home, a real one.
