~ Panic Attack Support ~

~ The Calm After The Storm ~

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The rain had finally stopped, and the skies above their small apartment were clear. The sunlight broke through the clouds in a gentle cascade, warm and inviting, casting a soft glow over everything in the room. For the first time in what felt like a long time, Seo Yeon woke up feeling... calm. There was no weight on her chest, no knot in her stomach. There was just the quiet rhythm of her own breathing.

Beside her, Ju-Won was still asleep, his features softened in the peaceful slumber he rarely seemed to get these days. She smiled softly, watching him for a moment before sitting up slowly, careful not to wake him.

The last few months had been a journey—one filled with ups and downs, moments of panic, and moments of progress. Seo Yeon had learned that she didn't need to be perfect, that healing wasn't linear, and that it was okay to have bad days. It was okay to not have all the answers. And with Ju-Won by her side, it was okay to be vulnerable, to lean on him, to let him be her support when she needed it.

He had shown her that there was strength in allowing someone else to help carry the load, and there was healing in not facing the darkness alone.

She stood up from the bed, her bare feet quiet against the cool floor as she walked to the window. The city outside was waking up, the world moving on around her, and for the first time in so long, she felt like she was part of it again. Not separate from it, not isolated in her own fear, but connected, present.

Her reflection in the window stared back at her—soft, vulnerable, but also stronger than she had ever allowed herself to believe. She had her moments of fear, of uncertainty, but she had also learned to trust herself again, to trust that she could face the storms and come out the other side.

And most importantly, she had learned to trust Ju-Won.

She turned back to see him starting to stir, his eyes fluttering open as he stretched beneath the covers. His gaze met hers, and a small, sleepy smile tugged at his lips.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

Seo Yeon smiled back, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't fully understood until now. "Good morning," she replied softly, moving toward the bed to sit beside him.

Ju-Won propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes soft with affection. "You okay?" he asked, his tone gentle.

For a long moment, Seo Yeon just looked at him—this man who had stood by her side through the hardest of days, the one who had never wavered, who had patiently guided her through every panic attack, every breakdown. She had been afraid to let him in fully, afraid to burden him with her pain, but he had never seen it as a burden. He had only seen her—a person he loved deeply, and that love was enough to make her believe that maybe, just maybe, she was enough, too.

"I'm okay," she said softly, her voice steady, the weight of her words grounding her in the reality of how far she had come. "I'm... okay."

Ju-Won smiled at her, his eyes warm and full of love. "You really are," he said, his voice full of admiration. "You've come so far, Seo Yeon. I'm so proud of you."

A wave of emotion rose in her chest, but this time, it wasn't fear or panic—it was gratitude, pure and simple. She leaned forward, resting her head against his shoulder, letting his warmth surround her. For the first time in a long while, she let herself feel at peace.

"I couldn't have done it without you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ju-Won's hand rested gently on her back, his touch grounding her, steadying her. "You don't have to," he replied softly. "You were always strong enough. You just needed to believe it."

Seo Yeon closed her eyes, letting those words settle into her heart, slowly but surely. She had come so far. And though the journey wasn't over, she was no longer afraid of what the future might bring.

The rain had passed. The clouds had cleared. And in their place was a sky full of possibilities.

As Ju-Won held her, Seo Yeon realized that she didn't need to have everything figured out. She didn't need to be perfect. She only needed to keep going—one step at a time.

And with Ju-Won by her side, she knew that no matter what came next, she would never have to face it alone.

The storm had passed. And the calm, the peace, was finally here.

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