you were walking back from your local bakery with your mom, holding a few warm bags in your hand. it was almost Thanksgiving and you and your mom always took a trip to the bakery and ordered a TON of sweets and biscuits for the holiday. it was kind of her special treat for you since it was just you and her now after the divorce, even though you were old enough now. You lived on your own in college dorms, but you always came home for the holidays. though on your way home, you saw someone curled up on the side of the road on your usual route who wasn't there before. he didn't look super dirty or anything but he definitely wasn't cleaned up or on his way somewhere. he looked maybe 20-30, and you could tell he was handsome behind his tired eyes and overgrown hair. he gave almost a brief and shameful smile and nod to you and your mom, maybe to say he wasn't a threat.

your mom looked a bit uneasy but seeing you already walk towards him with a bag of sweets, she trusted your intuition and just stood back, holding herself and watching with mild caution. the man looked up at you, his eyes surpised but warm. he looked a bit ashamed but almost too tired to care

"hello, doll, can I help you?" he had a sweet voice, almost like sugar in coffee.