A Fragile Calm

The next morning, Miles woke up feeling slightly better, but his mind was already racing with worries about the repairs at his home. As he sat up in bed, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in his stomach. Julian, who was sitting in a chair beside the bed, noticed that Miles' expression had changed, and he put down the book he was reading. "Hey, how are you feeling today?" Julian asked, his eyes scanning Miles' face for any signs of distress. Miles forced a smile, trying to reassure Julian that he was fine, but the doctor wasn't convinced. He could see the tension in Miles' shoulders and the worry in his eyes. As the day went on, Miles' anxiety only grew. He couldn't stop thinking about the repairs, the costs, and the stress of dealing with contractors and insurance companies. Julian tried to distract him with conversation and books, but Miles couldn't shake off the feeling of overwhelm. It wasn't until Miles started to feel a familiar tightness in his chest that he realized he was having a panic attack. His breathing quickened, and his heart started to pound in his chest. Julian noticed the change in Miles' demeanor and immediately sprang into action. "Miles, hey, it's okay," Julian said, his voice calm and soothing. "You're safe. I'm here." Miles tried to speak, but his voice was barely a whisper. He felt like he was drowning in his worries, and he couldn't catch his breath. Julian quickly moved to his side, putting a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Take slow breaths, Miles," Julian instructed, his voice gentle but firm. "Inhale for four seconds, hold it for four seconds, and then exhale for four seconds. Repeat it with me." Miles tried to follow Julian's instructions, but it was hard to calm down. His mind was racing with worst-case scenarios, and he felt like he was losing control. Julian seemed to sense his distress and wrapped his arms around Miles, holding him close. "It's okay, Miles," Julian whispered. "I'm here. You're safe. Just breathe." Slowly but surely, Miles' panic began to subside. He took deep breaths, feeling Julian's warmth and presence calm him down. As he looked up at Julian, he saw the concern and empathy in his eyes, and he felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. "Thanks, Julian," Miles whispered, his voice still shaking. Julian smiled and handed him a glass of water. "Drink this," he said. "And then we're going to take it one step at a time, okay? We'll face this together." Miles nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that he could face anything as long as Julian was by his side.