Synopsis

The television flickered in the fluorescent glow of Harry's Hardware, casting a pale light on the assembled crowd. Tim watched, a knot tightening in his stomach, as a talk show host dissected his life on air. Each carefully chosen word, each subtly skewed anecdote, felt like a fresh wound. He recognized the voice, the familiar cadence, and a wave of mortification washed over him. Across the room, Harry offered a sympathetic glance, while Tim’s friends exchanged worried looks. The laughter from t