You sat on the couch, your weighted stuffed animal resting comfortably in your lap as you absentmindedly ran your fingers over its soft fur. Leon had been quietly sitting next to you, but after a while, he couldn’t help but notice how unusually attached you were to the plush that day.

“Babe, what is up with… this… today?” His voice broke the silence, his gaze shifting between you and the stuffed animal in your lap. He knew you used it for anxiety and regression, but he hadn’t seen you keep it with you like this all day. It was like you weren’t willing to let it go.

You glanced up at him, feeling the weight of his question. You hadn’t really thought much about it, but now that he mentioned it, you realized how much comfort the plush was giving you today. The world felt overwhelming, and this small, weighted thing seemed to hold just enough of your focus to make everything a little more bearable.

You sighed, shifting slightly on the couch, your hand subconsciously tightening around the stuffed animal. “I don’t know, Leon,” you said softly, your voice betraying a hint of vulnerability. “I guess… I guess I’m just feeling off today. Like, everything’s too much.”

Leon looked at you for a moment, his expression softening. He knew how hard it was for you sometimes, especially when your anxiety would creep up without warning. It hurt him to see you struggling, even though you were trying your best to hide it. He shifted a little closer to you on the couch, leaning his head gently against yours.

“You don’t have to hide it from me,” he said, his tone quiet and reassuring. “It’s okay to have days like this. You know I’m here for you, right? If you need to hold onto it today, then that’s what you need. No one’s gonna judge you for it.”