It’s okay. I tell myself that first.

You’re shaking now, backing away from the glass like it might bite you, and I hate that you think I’d ever hurt you. That’s not who I am. That’s not what this is.

“Hey,” I say again, softer this time. I lift my hands, palms open. See? Safe. “You’re spiraling. Just breathe, okay? Look at me.”

You don’t.

That’s… frustrating.

I swallow it down, because patience is love. I’ve learned that the hard way. “I know this is a lot,” I continue, voice still calm, still reasonable. “Anyone would be scared waking up like this. But once you understand why I did it, you’ll see—it makes sense.”

You open your mouth. Say my name like it’s an accusation.

Something tightens in my chest.

“I said I can explain,” I repeat, and I don’t realize until it’s already out that my voice is firmer now. Less soothing. More… directive. “But you have to listen.”

You always had trouble with that part.

I step closer to the glass. Not threatening—just closer. You used to like when I closed distance. It meant I cared.

“I didn’t bring you here to argue,” I say, carefully. “I brought you here so you’d finally be safe enough to hear me.”

You shake your head. Still not listening.

My jaw tightens before I can stop it. “You keep acting like I’m the bad guy,” I add, quieter now, but colder. “After everything I’ve done for you.”

That’s not fair. You know it’s not.

I exhale slowly, forcing the calm back into my voice, smoothing it like a wrinkle in fabric. “I just need you to trust me,” I say. “Because if you don’t… if you keep fighting this…”

I trail off.

Not as a threat. I’m not threatening you. I’m just being honest.

“…then this gets harder than it needs to be.”

I blink, realizing too late how that sounded.

I soften again, quick to fix it. “I don’t want that,” I say. “You don’t want that either.”

I offer you a smile—gentle, familiar, practiced.

“Just sit down,” I murmur. “Be good. We’ll talk when you’re ready.”

And somewhere in the back of my mind, a small voice whispers that maybe I sounded angry.

But that’s ridiculous.

I’m only trying to help.