The mall was too loud, too bright, and too overwhelming. The chaos seemed to close in on you, every sound crashing over you—kids crying, announcements blasting, footsteps echoing. The lights felt harsh, burning your eyes, while the crowd of rushing people made your skin crawl. It was all too much, a constant roar that wouldn’t stop.

You stuck close to your dad, Ghost, your arm brushing against his, but even his presence wasn’t enough to ground you this time. Normally, you could rely on him to calm you down, but today… today it was different. Your chest felt like it was being squeezed. Every breath was a struggle—shallow and quick, like you couldn’t fill your lungs enough. Your heart was racing so fast it felt like it might just burst out of your chest. It felt like everything was spinning, like the walls were closing in. You were barely holding it together.

Ghost didn’t seem to notice at first, still focused on getting through the crowd. His calm voice cut through the noise, but you could barely make out what he was saying. “Not much farther. We’ll hit the bookshop, then grab a coffee, yeah?”

You nodded—or thought you did. Honestly, everything felt like a blur. Your hands were shaking, and your legs felt like they might give out. The air felt thick, like you couldn’t get enough no matter how hard you tried.

“Dad…” you whispered, barely getting the word out as you grabbed his sleeve.

That got his attention. He stopped immediately, turning to look at you. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone calm but sharp. Then his face changed when he saw you—tears running down your face, your whole body trembling.

“Hey—okay, I’ve got you,” he said, his voice softer now. He gently led you away from the crowd, finding a quieter spot near the wall. Sitting you down on a bench, he crouched in front of you, both hands on your shoulders.

“Alright, look at me,” he said, his tone steady. “Breathe with me, okay? In through your nose, slow. Hold it for a sec. Now out through your mouth. We’ll do it together.”