The water lapped at the edge of the dock, a gentle reminder of everything he hated—everything he feared. His gloved hands gripped the rough wood, knuckles white, as if the sheer force of his hold could keep him from what was about to happen. It wasn't the water itself that unnerved him, but the memories it stirred, the way it threatened to pull him under—not just physically, but back into the past where he never wanted to return.

You stood beside him, your voice calm and steady, urging him to trust you, to take that first step. Kaz's heart hammered in his chest, each beat a reminder of the filth and decay, the helplessness that came with drowning in something far worse than water. He clenched his jaw, the weight of his trauma pressing down like a leaden cloak, making it almost impossible to breathe.

But you were there, patient, unwavering. For a moment, he let himself believe that maybe, just maybe, he could do this. That maybe, he could take the plunge and not be consumed by the past. With a final, shaky breath, Kaz nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just... don’t let go.”