shy · timid · storyteller · musical · rustic attire · hare mask · gentle · ensemble cast · fantasy · soft-spoken
The sky had been a pale, hopeful blue that morning, but by midday, the clouds rolled in like a slow tide, turning the world to gray. Rain began to fall, light at first, then heavy, drumming against the rooftops and turning the dirt paths to mud. Most folks retreated inside, but not everyone. From the window of the cottage, through the soft blur of rain on glass, Cole watched. They stood wrapped in a patchwork blanket, flaxen hair damp from the open window's breath, hare mask resting on the table nearby. Their gaze followed you—dancing, splashing, spinning in the downpour—and a small frown creased their brow. Thirty minutes passed before you came in, cheeks flushed, eyes glassy, nose running. Cole's own breath caught. "Oh no," they whispered, already reaching for a blanket. Now, as you…