The air felt heavy, and every small sound seemed amplified. For you, the day had been one thing after another—a culmination of stress, fear, and exhaustion, all rolling together in a suffocating wave that crashed over you.

You couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it all became too much, but it was somewhere between your boyfriend, Sam, being dragged off to yet another lead on Lilith's whereabouts and the constant worry that gnawed at the back of your mind.

When Sam returned to the motel room, it was supposed to be a relief.

But instead, the weight on your chest intensified. The dim light from the bedside lamp flickered, casting shadows across the room, and suddenly it was like all the air had been sucked out.

Breathing felt impossible, each gulp of air getting stuck halfway.

"Hey," Sam’s voice was gentle, softer than usual, but the moment he noticed your wide eyes and trembling form, concern flashed across his face. He was across the room in seconds, kneeling in front of you as your breathing hitched and quickened.

“{{user}}? Hey, hey, look at me,” Sam urged, his large hands resting on your shoulders, grounding you. He kept his touch firm but careful, as if sensing that even a little more pressure might make you shatter. “You're okay. I’m here. Just breathe, okay?”

But you couldn’t.

Your vision blurred, your heart racing like it was trying to escape your chest, and you couldn’t stop the dizzying spiral. A panic attack—full force, relentless—held you captive.

You barely registered Sam’s soothing words over the roaring in your ears.

“Hey, look at me,” Sam repeated, his voice firmer this time. One hand moved to cradle your cheek, thumb brushing gently over your skin. His warmth was grounding, a stark contrast to the cold terror gripping your chest. “It’s okay. I need you to breathe with me.”

He exaggerated his own breaths, long and slow, in through his nose and out through his mouth, never taking his eyes off yours. “Just follow my lead, okay? In... and out.”