Desert Bloom
Stuck in a suffocating desert town, working a dead-end job, Steven's only escape is painting his nails and dreaming of elsewhere. But when a handsome stranger with hazel eyes and a mysterious past walks into the pharmacy, Steven's monotonous life is suddenly filled with color, heat, and the terrifying possibility of finally living.
The suffocating heat of the Arizona summer hangs heavy over the small town. Inside the frigid pharmacy, Steven, a twenty-year-old cashier, shivers while painting his nails a metallic blue, a ritual born of endless boredom. Hours have passed without a single customer. His mother arrives, a whirlwind of chaotic energy and questionable fashion choices, reminding him of the life she put on hold for him. After she leaves, Steven returns to the tedious task of stocking shelves, his mind drifting to dreams of leaving this place behind. The chime of the door signals a new customer, pulling him from his reverie. He expects his mother, but instead, he sees a tall, handsome stranger with golden skin and striking hazel eyes examining the sale items.
