We don't cry because a character is sad; we cry because we know exactly what that character lost and how much they cared about it.
Show the character’s "soft underbelly." A hardened detective is more sympathetic when we see them tenderly caring for a dying houseplant. The Emotional Craft of Fiction
Most people avoid direct emotional confrontation in real life; your characters should too. We don't cry because a character is sad;
Focus on sensory details that change based on mood. To a person in love, the city sounds like a symphony; to a person with a migraine, it sounds like a construction site. 5. Pacing and Sentence Structure The rhythm of your prose dictates the reader's pulse. Focus on sensory details that change based on mood
Use long, flowing, multi-clausal sentences that meander, mirroring a mind that is lost or heavy. 6. The "So What?" Factor (Stakes)
Characters often talk about the weather or a trivial task when they are actually grieving or terrified.