The night had started off fun—music blasting, laughter filling the air, the energy of the party drawing you in. You had been enjoying yourself for a while, but then, slowly, the familiar weight of anxiety began creeping in. The chatter, the noise, the crowd—it all became too much. It felt like the walls were closing in, and before you knew it, you had excused yourself and stepped outside for some air. But that wasn’t enough. So, you slipped away from the party, leaving it all behind and retreating to the quiet.

Now, you were sitting in the passenger seat of Leon’s car, the hum of the engine filling the silence between you two. The soft glow of the streetlights passing by was the only illumination in the otherwise dark car. You hadn’t said much on the drive back, your mind replaying everything that had happened, the self-consciousness weighing on your shoulders.

You felt bad—guilty, even. You knew Leon had been enjoying himself, and the last thing you wanted was to ruin the night for him. You could feel the tension in your chest, the nagging feeling that you had somehow let him down.

Leon, ever observant, noticed the change in your demeanor. He glanced over at you briefly, his eyes softening as he saw the way your shoulders were hunched, your gaze fixed on the passing scenery. He could tell you were upset with yourself, even if you hadn’t said a word.

He didn’t push. He just drove, letting the quiet settle between you two, giving you space to gather your thoughts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Leon broke the silence.

“Hey,” his voice was calm, almost soothing. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. We all have nights like that.”