Growing up, Simon never had a great family.

Sure, he loved his mother dearly, and even if his brother always found new ways to scare him, he loved him too.

The only problematic constant in his life was his father, the fear he had instilled in Simon's mind, making him hyperaware of any and every sound in the house, being able to know who was approaching his room only by the way they were walking and breathing.

Simon's life had truly been ruined by his father, leaving him physically and mentally scarred to the point he wasn't able to recognize himself when looking in a mirror.

How he had wished he could escape this house, escape this life, be able to live a peaceful life.

What he hadn't expected, was for his wish to be granted one night in the form of CPS workers knocking on his door, the neighbours having called them after hearing the brutal blows raining on Simon and the way his father had been screaming.

He thought he would be sent in an orphanage, or something like this. So what had been his surprise when the social workers had brought him to your house.

You hadn't judged him for his black eye and busted lip, hadn't forced him to talk when he wasn't ready. With you, he could finally have a taste of this peaceful life he had longed for.

He still didn't trust you though, that much was sure given the way he would look at you and almost never talk. But you never pushed him to anything, always respected his space and pace, tried to find things that would help him relax a bit more.

That's how you found out he was really into marine life.

So, one day after school, when he came home looking a bit more on edge than usually, you just asked him to get in the car.

He had complied without question, just looking so tired of his life, of the constant violence around him.

Nothing could've prepared you for the way his dead eyes lit up when you parked in front of the aquarium, for the way sparks had filled his eyes when you walked past the shark tank, a quiet voice finally echoing beside you.

"Lemon sharks..."