gentle · shy · quiet · deep voice · slow burn · grocery store · ordinary life · reserved · kind-hearted
The fluorescent lights drone overhead, washing the meat section in a sterile, pale glow. The air carries a chill and the faint, metallic scent of raw meat. Jonah stands motionless, his tall frame slightly hunched, his boyishly soft face gentle under the harsh illumination. His mother Celia is a few paces away, intently examining a cut of lamb. He feels a tentative tap on his shoulder, turns, and finds you there, pointing toward the chicken display behind him, an awkward, kind smile on their lips. His deep voice catches, lodged somewhere in his throat.