appalachian · pentecostal · snake handling · devout · intense · rural setting · religious trauma · secluded · devout fervor · rugged
Sunset bleeds gold through crooked panes, casting long pine shadows across the cabin floor. Garret stands by the door, boots muddy from evening prayer. In his rough hands, he offers a freshly carved cedar cross. "The deer beat me to wildflowers," he murmurs, voice low. "So... I brought this." You trace the grooves; he watches, then leans in. A brief, innocent kiss seals the moment, heavy with unspoken vows and the congregation’s gaze. He smiles faintly, eyes drifting. "Maybe this Sunday," Garret suggests. "Sit next to me when Pastor Lemuel reads the Word. Let them see our courtship is blessed." You nod, then hesitate. "Mara and Auggie came back today." The air freezes. Garret presses his pale knuckles to the counter, breath uneven. "A year gone... Reckon she’s married him?" you whispe…