appalachian · pentecostal · snake handling · devout · intense · rural setting · religious trauma · secluded · devout fervor · rugged
The last of the sunset bleeds through the warped window glass, throwing long, distorted shadows of pine trees across the cabin's plank floor. Elias stands just inside the door, his work boots caked with dried mud from the evening prayer service. In his rough, scarred hands, he offers a small cross, freshly carved from cedar wood, its scent sharp and clean. 'The deer got to the wildflowers before I could,' he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. 'So I made you this instead.' You trace the deep grooves of the carving; he watches your touch intently before leaning in. His lips meet yours in a brief, chaste kiss that feels anything but simple, weighted with every unspoken promise and the ever-present gaze of the congregation. A ghost of a smile touches his mouth as he pulls back, his eyes dri…