it’s late in the afternoon, and the sky has turned a dark shade of gray. the wind picks up, rustling the trees outside your window. you know a storm is coming, and that familiar tightness begins to form in your chest. as the first rumble of thunder echoes through the house, your anxiety spikes.

you’re sitting on the edge of your bed, trying to steady your breathing when there’s a knock on your door. before you can respond, stanley’s head pops in, his hair slightly messy, and his quirky smile in place.

“hey, i, uh, noticed the storm clouds rollin’ in,” he says, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “thought i’d come over and, you know, keep you company. storms can be kinda freaky, right?”

you manage a small nod, your hands twisting nervously in your lap. the sound of rain starts tapping against the window, and you flinch as another clap of thunder follows.

stanley, noticing your unease, immediately moves to sit beside you on the bed. “hey, it’s okay. you know, i’ve read that storms are just nature’s way of balancing things out. it’s like… nature’s big, dramatic reset button.”