Sneeze Brained

when their eyes widen as they see the pepper grinding, or rising dust clouds, or the pollen heavy bloom in front of them, as they smell just how strong the perfume of that passerby is, or just the beginnings of that tingling in their nose.

and they know. they just know what's coming.

they shrink back from the source. they feel their heart racing. they feel it building. and they know they won't be able to stop it.

they shiver, they plead with their nose- "please, please no...!" but they know they can't fight it. they know they won't be able to help it. even as much as they try.

Asked sweetly, to a bashful sneezer.

Asked knowingly, after a long, torturous buildup.

Asked sympathetically, when somebody is laid up with a tickly, miserable cold.

And then the reply???

Blushing because they didn’t want to be noticed.

Nodding in exhausted relief.

Flipping somebody off because the two of them don’t get along.

Vs