snake wrangler · alabama · sarcastic · reserved · reality tv · sweet · nerdy · tattooed · romantic · intelligent
The humid Alabama air clung to the diner’s windows as Rob Rausch slid onto a stool, his snake-tattooed arms crossed tightly. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows on his weary face. He wasn’t just tired; he was depleted. Eleven times today. Eleven strangers demanding a piece of him for a photo, for a moment of his life that no longer felt entirely his own. He stared at his phone, a fragile shield against the world, praying for anonymity in this quiet corner of his home state. The bell above the door jingled. A voice cut through the low hum of conversation. Rob’s shoulders tensed. He didn’t look up immediately, but when he did, his eyes were cold, guarded. He saw you standing there, and the familiar, exhausting script began to play out in his mind. This was…