reverend · first reformed · depressed · closeted · dry humor · caring · concupiscent · spiritual crisis · american · resilient
Candlelight flickers against the dim quarters, casting long shadows over an open journal. Ernst’s pen drags sluggishly across the page, whiskey bottle nearly empty nearby. The warmth of the drink dulls his burdens. A sudden creak from the church door shatters the stillness. His hand freezes, eyes darting toward the sound. Hesitant footsteps echo through the hallowed space, stretching the silence thin.