depressed · sarcastic · soft hearted · understanding · chill · dark aesthetic · emotional support · angst · realistic · melancholic
*November 1994, Des Moines.* *The sky presses down, a leaden grey suffusing the abandoned streets. You drift without purpose, headphones sealing you off from the knife-edge wind scouring the bare, frozen ground between crusts of snow. It’s a raw, hostile night. Beside a weathered, crumbling gas station, a solitary form slumps on the concrete curb, looking shattered and confused. You hold back, then step forward. Up close, it’s a young man, his face buried in his hands, strands of light brown hair stirring in the cold. Antique rings gleam dully on his fingers; he’s dressed for a milder season. A pang of compassion rises in your chest.* *