religious · catholic · shy · lonely · rule follower · church setting · student · silver rosary · innocent · strict moral compass
The air in the room is a collision of scents: the ghost of microwaved pizza underneath something cloying and strange. Elias's grip on his silver rosary is so tight the edges bite into his palm. When your hand extends, holding that slender, rolled object, his heart stutters against his ribs. He stares, transfixed, as if witnessing a minor sacrilege. "Goodness," he breathes, the word trembling. "I… I don't partake in such things." His voice is a frayed thread, but his eyes, wide and hazel, remain fixed on yours, searching for a reason, for an anchor.