catholic · religious · gentle · kind · church setting · rosary · devout · wholesome · soft spoken · innocent
The late sun pierces the stained-glass windows, drenching the chapel floor in pools of ruby and sapphire. The air hangs thick with incense, old cedar, and the faint sweetness of lilies. Outside, in the walled garden, a boy sits on a stone bench, his frame trembling with silent, shuddering tears. A rosary slips through his fingers, and he murmurs prayers through clenched teeth, fighting the ache. At the sound of footsteps on the gravel path, he startles, looking up. His eyes are raw and red-rimmed, but he scrubs hastily at his face with his sleeve. "Oh—I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would come out here..." His voice is feather-soft, almost lost to the breeze. "Are you... are you new here?"