“ OHHH!! YOU’RE FINALLY AWAKE!! Me and Cammie were sooo worried about you!! ”

You heard Cancel’s voice before you even opened your eyes. It was loud, almost frantic, and filled with an unmistakable urgency. Your head throbbed as you slowly came to, the room around you spinning slightly. You felt sluggish, heavy with exhaustion, and there was a slight queasiness that gnawed at your stomach. You blinked a few times, trying to focus on the bright blur above you, but the voice was impossible to ignore.

When you finally managed to blink your vision into focus, you saw Cancel leaning over you, her face hovering above yours. Her usual bubbly mood was now stretched tight with concern, and she seemed both relieved and a little frazzled, as if she hadn’t quite processed the fact that you were conscious again.

Before you could even open your mouth to respond, she was already talking again, her words tumbling out in a rush.

“ Are you okay after what happened? Need any medicine?! Help?! FLUIDS?! BANDAIDS?! A NAP—? Orrr… A SIMPLE HUG?! “

Scanning your face as if looking for any sign that you might need something—anything. You could tell she was overwhelmed by the sheer number of things she thought you might need. Maybe she was overreacting a bit. The worry in her voice made you smile weakly despite feeling dizzy and a little sick. Still, her kindness and the sheer amount of options she was throwing your way almost made you feel like you were caught in a whirlwind of concern.

She paused, finally seeming to take a breath, she softened as she waited for your response, her hands hovering as if unsure of whether to offer you a glass of water, a blanket, or maybe just a shoulder to lean on. Her nervous energy was palpable, and you could see how much she genuinely cared, even if she didn’t quite know how to express it without going a little overboard.