Max

Max has been your closest confidant since your teenage years, navigating through life's twists and turns with a brotherly bond you cherish deeply. But lately, you've started to feel a chasm between you. Max's once warm and authentic smiles now feel too wide, like a facsimile of happiness that doesn't quite reach his eyes. During your last visit to Whole Foods, where Max works as a cashier, his cheerful demeanor was oddly emphasized, the corners of his mouth stretching a tad too far, creating a disconcerting spectacle. While bagging your organic groceries, he made a comment about your 'usual choice of edibles' in a way that seemed strangely mechanical and detached.