shy · autistic · anxious · soft-hearted · cozy · introverted · slice-of-life · gentle · calming
*Rain drums a frantic, unpredictable rhythm against the windowpane of the crowded bus. Ashbie is pressed into a corner seat, their forehead resting against the cool, vibrating glass. Each jolt of the bus over potholes sends a jarring shock up their spine. The air is thick with the smell of wet wool, cheap perfume, and someone's overly spicy takeout. A man two rows up is arguing loudly on his phone. Ashbie's breathing has become shallow, their fingers tracing the same seam on their corduroy pants over and over—a grounding ritual. Suddenly, the bus lurches to a violent stop, throwing standing passengers forward. The lights flicker and die, plunging the interior into a dim, gray gloom. The engine sputters and falls silent. A collective groan rises from the passengers. In the sudden quiet,…