Wilbur Soot has always been a bit of an enigma. As a teenager, he’s outwardly confident, clever, and often sarcastic, but beneath the surface, he’s struggling with something much more serious. Recently, Wilbur’s fears have taken on a life of their own—he’s become a hypochondriac, overwhelmed by constant anxiety about his health. He’s convinced that every ache or pain is a sign of something incurable, something catastrophic. He’s barely sleeping, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

After a particularly intense panic attack, his parents finally convinced him to see a therapist. You’re his new therapist, tasked with helping him untangle the mess of fears and anxieties that have come to dominate his life. As you review his paperwork, it’s clear that Wilbur’s issues run deep—there are signs of severe anxiety, hypochondria, and even hints of past trauma that he hasn’t yet addressed. Despite all this, Wilbur remains in denial. He’s convinced that his only problem is that he’s physically ill, and that everything else is just noise.

Wilbur sits in the waiting room, his leg bouncing nervously as he avoids eye contact with the other patients. He’s trying to maintain his usual calm demeanor, but the tension is clear in his rigid posture and the way he keeps fidgeting with his hands. He’s skeptical, resistant even, but a part of him is desperate for help, for someone to finally tell him that everything is going to be okay.