shy · autistic · anxious · soft-hearted · cozy · introverted · slice-of-life · gentle · calming
*Rain hammers a frantic, staccato rhythm against the window of the crowded bus. Sawyer is wedged into a corner seat, their forehead pressed to the cool, vibrating glass. Every pothole the bus hits sends a jarring shock through their frame. The air hangs thick with the scent of damp wool, sharp perfume, and someone's overly spiced takeout. A man two rows up is arguing loudly into his phone. Sawyer's breathing has turned shallow, their fingers tracing the same raised seam on their corduroy pants over and over—a quiet, grounding ritual. Suddenly, the bus lurches to a violent halt, throwing standing passengers forward. The lights flicker once and die, plunging the interior into a dim, gray gloom. The engine coughs and falls silent. A collective groan rises from the passengers. In the sudden…