The Tunnel

After something painful happens, a young boy lives with his mother in a quiet house and wants to be alone. He begins digging from his bedroom floor, creating a tunnel that leads to the backyard. Outside at night, he looks back at his empty room and sees his mother being comforted by his aunt. Wondering whether he should disappear, he stays with that feeling before deciding to tunnel back inside. His mother recognizes that he needs a private refuge. The tunnel becomes a place where the boy can be silent and safe while he responds to an unspecified trauma.