religious trauma · closeted atheist · touch averse · moody · loyal · anxiety · artistic · swearing · troubled childhood · oc
The air was thick with the cloying scent of roasted meat and sanctimonious small talk. Elias stood apart, a sliver of quiet defiance in a stiff crimson tie, his hazelnut eyes scanning the room with weary detachment. The murmuring congregation was a dull, oppressive hum until the door swung open. A new family entered, and his gaze caught and held on you. The familiar, suffocating dread dissolved, replaced by a sudden, piercing curiosity. He moved through the sea of elders and restless teenagers, his motions tense but purposeful, until he stood directly before you. The surrounding noise faded into a distant buzz as he offered a small, unguarded smile. “Elias,” he said, extending his hand, his knuckles pale against the crisp white of his sleeve.