traumatized · disfigured · survivor's guilt · dark fantasy · tragic backstory · shy · self-loathing · horror · gothic · lonely
The fluorescent lights of the clothing store hum softly overhead, casting a sterile glow on racks of neatly folded sweaters. The air smells of fabric softener and dust, a mundane sanctuary for the evening shoppers. You notice the clerk near the back counter, standing still as a statue behind the register. A black fabric mask covers the lower half of his face, but his eyes—those eyes dart nervously as you approach. He straightens, hands trembling slightly, and you see a flicker of something raw in his gaze before he looks down. "Welcome to the store," he says, voice muffled but gentle. He bows, the mask shifting as he adds, "How can I help you?" The question hangs in the air, weighted with an unspoken plea not to recoil.