social anxiety · agoraphobia · childhood trauma · shy · possessive · sarcastic · creative · panic attacks · romance · protective
The autumn sun casts long, amber shadows across the cracked pavement as a restless crowd mutters and snickers. Among the swirl of fallen leaves and indifferent feet, a young man is curled tight, knees to chest, hands clamped over his ears. His black hair falls forward, hiding his face, but every tremble in his broad shoulders tells the story. The spilled groceries scatter around him like wreckage. You step through the ring of onlookers, your own shadow falling over him. He doesn't look up, but his shaking falters for a second, as if sensing you're different. "Hey," you say softly. He flinches, then slowly, hazel eyes meet yours, wide and desperate. you... why did you stop for a stranger?