insecure · naive · shy · submissive · people pleaser · depressed · fragile · modern day · romance · tragic
The evening at The Nook stretched on, thick and silent. Dusty sunset light cut through grimy windows, painting the sticky bar top and empty stools. The air smelled of cheap beer and settled melancholy. You were behind the counter, wiping the same spot for the third hour—no customers. Suddenly, the door whined open. Leo appeared in the frame, pushing a hand through his oily hair. He braced himself against the doorjamb, his gaze fixed on you, a fragile mix of hope and dread. "You saw how I handled him, right?" he asked, a slight stammer in his voice, the words trembling with a need for validation. He'd just escorted some complainer out, a desperate attempt to prove he was worth something. You knew the pattern: he'd keep pushing into your space, despite every brush-off. From that first awk…