That Smile 🙂

He learned early that saying things straight made people nervous. So he started softening the edges— letting thoughts interrupt each other, joking before the truth got heavy, turning real feelings into background noise. Every thought in his head is running from something— a moment he never explained, a feeling he swallowed because it stayed too long. Ask him what’s on his mind and he’ll smile without thinking. It’s easier that way. Smiles keep the questions small. Inside, nothing stands still. The same worries walk the same circles, changing names, never leaving. Busy, but not going anywhere. He doesn’t think too much. He just got very good at making the mess look like he’s fine.