Daddy's Precious Little Girl

Trauma

Ethan's POV

Everything went great with our morning classes with Mr. Delas and lunch was uneventful. Then came afternoon classes. That is where things took a change.

Ashlynn's hand trembled in mine as we approached the door to the Little's Sanctuary. At first, I thought she was just a bit nervous, maybe feeling shy after what happened yesterday. I kept my tone light, hoping to reassure her. "Hey, sweet girl, it's okay," I said softly, giving her hand a little squeeze. "They've got the art station all set up for you. You'll be able to paint like you wanted."

But as we drew nearer, her steps faltered. She didn't say anything, just stopped a few feet from the door, her gaze fixed on it as though it were something to be feared. My frown deepened. Something wasn't right.

I crouched down beside her, still holding her hand. "Ashlynn?" I asked, gently, trying to meet her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Her grip tightened, her small hand gripping mine like it was a lifeline. I could see it in her eyes—the fear. It wasn't just nervousness or shyness. This was something else, something deeper. I thought back to what had happened the day before: the lies, the unjust timeout. It had to be connected to that, right?

"You're safe, Ashlynn," I assured her, keeping my voice soft and steady. "I'm right here. No one's going to bother you."

But she shook her head, her whole body trembling now. My chest tightened with concern. Was it just about the punishment? Or had something happened in that room that I didn't know about?

I took a deep breath, trying to make sense of it. I only knew what Ashlynn had told me about the incident. She hadn't pushed anyone, hadn't done anything wrong, yet she had been punished unfairly. But this reaction—this fear—felt like it was about more than just being in timeout. Could the way she had been treated, or something about the atmosphere in the room, have triggered something in her?

"Ashlynn, you don't have to go in there if you're not ready," I said, keeping my voice calm. I wasn't going to force her into a situation that made her uncomfortable. "We can figure something else out. You're not alone, okay?"

Her relief was palpable. Her grip on my hand loosened just a little, but her eyes stayed wide, filled with that lingering anxiety. It wasn't just about yesterday. Something had unsettled her on a deeper level. I didn't know all the details yet, but I'd need to figure it out.

"How about this?" I offered, trying to lighten the mood. "You can come with me to class instead. I've got some coloring stuff at my desk. We can stick together today."

She nodded, still not letting go of my hand. I could feel her trust in that simple gesture, but I also knew there was more to this than she was letting on. For now, though, I'd stay close and make sure she felt safe.

Ashlynn's trembling didn't ease as we walked away from the Sanctuary, and it was clear to me that her fear ran deeper than just the unfair timeout. I kept glancing at her from the corner of my eye, trying to figure out what might have happened. Something more had to have shaken her yesterday, but right now, getting her to class without pushing her was the priority.

"You're doing great," I said softly, hoping to reassure her. "We'll get to my class, and you can color or just sit with me. No pressure, okay?"

She didn't say anything, just squeezed my hand a little tighter. She was still so quiet, her eyes downcast and body rigid as though she was bracing herself for something. When we reached the classroom, I felt her hesitate again, her small feet slowing to a stop.

"Do you want to stay close today?" I asked, crouching down beside her again to meet her eye level. "You don't have to sit at a separate desk if you don't want to. You can sit right with me."