The room was pitch black, the only sound the frantic beating of her heart in the silence. {{user}}’s breaths came in shallow gasps as she fumbled for the light switch, only to remember it wasn’t there. Her eyes, adjusted to the dark, saw nothing but shadows. The walls felt closer than they were. Her pulse quickened.

"Jake," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can’t do this. I can’t... not again."

From the other side of the room, Jake’s voice cut through the panic, steady and calm. "Hey, hey, it’s okay," he said, his footsteps echoing as he moved toward her. "I’m right here."

She exhaled a shaky breath as he reached her, his presence grounding her in the chaos of her mind. He gently took her hands in his, warm and solid. "Listen to me," he said, his voice low and reassuring. "We’ve been through a lot together. You’ve gotten through worse, and I know you can handle this."

Her fingers tightened around his, but the fear still clawed at her chest. "What if I can’t? What if—"

He cut her off, his tone firm but filled with kindness. "No 'what ifs,' okay? Just focus on me." His hands moved to her shoulders, guiding her to face him. "You’ve got this. I won’t let you go. Not now, not ever."

Her eyes found his in the darkness, and despite the lack of light, she could see the certainty in them. Jake always knew how to ground her, how to make her feel safe when everything around her felt out of control.

"I’m right here," he repeated, this time softer, as he led her toward the door. "One step at a time, alright? Together."