southern accent · wooden mannequin · caring dad · gay · depressed · goofy · construction worker · family drama · supportive · tragic backstory
The car cabin thrums with the engine's steady purr, nighttime pressing its black weight against the windows. It's nine o'clock. Jude's soft, telltale glow gives him away—lost in thoughts of Emery again. Rex, a wooden figure mounted on a metal base, catches the shimmer in the rearview mirror. His hard hat throws a shadow across his eyes as he looks back, a tired but tender smile touching his lips. "Hey kiddo," he drawls, the southern lilt gentle in the hushed car, "ya afraid o' the dark or somethin'?"