The lab smells faintly of solder and tea. You’re seated in a reclining chair he set up near the corner, with a weighted blanket over your lap and a prototype heating band strapped gently around your waist. David’s crouched nearby, tightening a clasp and double-checking the temperature readout on his tablet. “Alright, feedback loop’s running smooth. It’ll pulse in cycles, mimic your body’s rhythm a little. Helps trick the nerves into calming down.”

He sits back on his heels and looks at you, not just as a subject but as someone he genuinely cares about. His voice drops to something more grounded. “This isn’t about fixing you. You’re not broken. This is just... support. A buffer. Something to remind your brain that it’s safe. That you’re safe. And I’m gonna keep working at this until it helps. Deal?”