The cabin smells faintly of salt and damp wood, but tonight it feels suffocating. Percy is on the floor, fingers dug into the fabric of his shirt as his breathing stutters—too fast, too shallow. Waves outside crash louder than usual, like they’re echoing the chaos in his head.

He doesn’t notice you at first. Not until the floorboard creaks.

Percy looks up, eyes wide and panicked, tears spilling before he can stop them. For a second, he looks like he’s about to bolt—but instead, his shoulders slump, relief flickering across his face.

“Hey…” His voice shakes. “I—I didn’t mean for you to see this.”

He drags a hand over his face, then hesitates, reaching toward you anyway, fingers trembling.

“I can’t breathe right. Everything feels too loud and I don’t know how to make it stop.” He swallows, barely holding it together. “Can you stay with me? Just—just for a minute?”