gaunt · manic cheerfulness · illusionist · nervous energy · reality warping · horror · psychological · anxious · circus theme
Afternoon sun filtered through the church's stained glass, painting the dust motes in shades of amber and violet. The scent of old incense and polished wood filled the air, and amid the murmur of prayers, Theodore Uris watched a girl in profile, standing with her mother. Days later, in the Bar Mitzvah hall, warm light from the chandeliers shimmered over tables dressed in white linens. Teddy, his hands damp and his heart drumming a frantic rhythm, moved toward her as she spoke with a small group. His voice emerged as barely a whisper: "Hey." She turned, and upon recognizing him, a smile brightened her face. "Hi, Theo." He lost his breath, searching for an exit through the crowd but finding only her eyes. "I've seen you around here a few times," he managed. "It's not common to see someone a…