~ Panic Attack Support ~

~ Finding The Quiet ~

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The day had been a blur of activities, and as the evening approached, the pace slowed. Seo Yeon had gotten through the day as best she could, despite the constant tension that she'd learned to carry with her. She found comfort in small, simple things—like the way the sun's golden light spread across the living room, the smell of her favorite tea filling the air, and the sound of Ju-Won's voice as he spoke to her, always gentle, always steady.

Tonight, however, was different. Tonight, the familiar anxiety had crept in more persistently than usual, its tendrils twisting around her chest, settling in a way that made her feel like she was suffocating. The panic wasn't here yet, but it loomed in the distance, waiting to rush in when she least expected it. It was always like this—quiet before the storm.

Seo Yeon sat at the edge of the couch, her fingers nervously tapping against the fabric of her jeans. She stared at the floor, trying to will away the unease, but it was difficult. The room felt too big, the space too empty despite the fact that Ju-Won was sitting just a few feet away, reading a book. He had been quiet for a while, and Seo Yeon couldn't help but wonder if he'd noticed the shift in her energy.

She let out a small, shaky breath, trying to calm herself, but it didn't work. It never worked as easily as she wished it would. Her thoughts spiraled faster, more intensely, until the familiar pressure in her chest intensified.

Her heart rate increased.

Her palms grew clammy.

The air felt too thick to breathe.

She didn't want to alarm him. She didn't want to seem weak again. She had learned the hard way that sometimes the panic made her feel like she was drowning, like no matter how hard she fought to stay afloat, it always pulled her under. And she didn't want Ju-Won to see that. Not tonight.

But Ju-Won wasn't blind. He knew her too well. He could feel the change in the air the moment it shifted, even without her saying a word.

Seo Yeon's breathing grew more erratic as the anxiety tightened its grip on her, and before she knew it, Ju-Won had set his book down and was next to her, his hand on her shoulder, his voice soft but firm.

"Seo Yeon," he said, his tone filled with concern but not panic. "Look at me."

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and the intensity in his gaze made her chest tighten even more. "I'm okay," she whispered quickly, almost pleading, not wanting him to see how much she was struggling, but he wasn't fooled.

"You're not okay," he said gently, his voice calm and soothing. "It's okay, though. I'm here."

Seo Yeon's hands clenched tightly in her lap, and she shook her head slightly, as though trying to deny it all. She didn't want him to worry, didn't want to drag him into the storm that was brewing inside her.

"You don't have to help me," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, her lips trembling. "I can handle it..."

Ju-Won's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. He knew her too well to let her push him away.

"No," he said simply, shaking his head. "You don't have to handle it alone. You never have to."

His words were steady, as if his calm was enough to create a space where she could feel it too. But Seo Yeon still felt lost in the overwhelming rush of emotions that she couldn't control. The anxiety was taking over, and she didn't know how to stop it.

Ju-Won moved closer to her, his hand gently brushing her cheek, a touch meant to soothe her. "Let's do this together, okay? You're going to be okay."

Seo Yeon closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a long, shaky breath. She nodded slowly, the fight inside her beginning to quiet just a little.

He placed his hand gently over hers, still resting in her lap, his thumb tracing small circles across her palm, as he spoke softly. "What do you see, Seo Yeon?"

The question was familiar, the start of the routine he had used to ground her in the past. She had come to rely on these simple questions, the way they helped bring her back into the present moment. She focused on the feel of his hand over hers, the softness of his touch.

"I see... the lamp," she murmured, her voice shaky but steadying. "The books on the shelf... the window. The stars outside."

"Good," Ju-Won said, his voice a soft encouragement. "What do you hear?"

Seo Yeon paused, focusing on the quiet sounds around them. She took a breath, grounding herself further.

"I hear... the hum of the fridge," she whispered, feeling the sound reverberate in her chest, "and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall."

"Perfect," Ju-Won said, his thumb continuing to move in gentle circles. "And what do you smell?"

She closed her eyes, taking another deep breath. The familiar scents of the apartment began to settle her nerves—the faint trace of Ju-Won's cologne, the comforting scent of her favorite candle still lingering in the air.

"I smell... your cologne, and the scent of the candles from earlier," she said, her voice becoming a little steadier now.

"Good job," Ju-Won whispered, his voice warm with affection and approval. "You're doing great. Just keep breathing with me, okay?"

Seo Yeon nodded again, but this time, she felt the panic begin to retreat. She could feel Ju-Won's presence—steady, unwavering. He was always there when she needed him most. He didn't rush her, didn't push her, but let her take it at her own pace, the way she needed to.

"You're safe," he whispered, his lips brushing against her temple. "I've got you. You're not alone."

For a long moment, they sat there in the quiet, the weight of the panic gradually lifting, replaced by a sense of calm that only Ju-Won's presence could provide. The storm inside her had faded, but it wasn't gone—it never truly was. It would always be there, lurking in the background, ready to return at any time.

But tonight, for now, it was enough to be with him. To know that no matter what came, she didn't have to face it alone. Ju-Won would always be there, his steady love a constant anchor in the midst of the chaos.

Seo Yeon took another deep breath, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the quiet inside her that had seemed so elusive. It wasn't perfection, and it wasn't freedom from the storm—but it was peace, however brief it might be.

"I love you," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

"I love you too," Ju-Won replied, his voice filled with that same unshakable certainty.

And in that moment, Seo Yeon allowed herself to believe it—to believe that no matter what came next, they would face it together. And that was enough.

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