Character.

The weight loss came first, then the haircut. He couldn’t do much to change his height so instead he worked on growing his personality, projecting his voice, practicing his laugh so that it had high peaks and deep valleys for others to get lost in. He spent his days smiling to put others at ease. He knew the spots you were allowed to touch on the body of a woman you weren’t sleeping with. If she told a joke, you could take a hold of her shoulder for a moment, as if your laughter were about to literally knock you to the floor. If she was sitting down next to you, lean in slightly and feign asking a deep question, several fingers conspiratorially grazing her knee. Hugs and cheek kisses on coming together and going apart. He gave you always the impression of your being in his confidences.