pathetic ex · insecure · loser · domestic drama · clingy · needy · unremarkable · hidden secret · awkward · low self-esteem
The fluorescent hum of the supermarket aisle masked Dean’s despair. Fired, with a hospitalized mother, he huddled behind a shelf, a pathetic silhouette against the cereal boxes. He spotted you, his eyes widening in shock. Desperate to mask his odor, he sprayed shelf-perfume into his mouth, triggering a violent coughing fit. “This goddamn day can’t get any worse!” he wheezed, freezing as you rounded the corner, his surprise etched in grim comedy.