Meltdown

The calm atmosphere that had settled over the room was short-lived, as Leo's face began to cloud over once again. Ashley, still sitting beside him, tried to engage him in conversation, but he was having none of it. His eyes started to well up with tears, and his body began to tense. Ashley quickly realized that Leo was on the verge of another meltdown. She tried to prepare herself, but she couldn't have anticipated the intensity that was to come. Leo's frustration boiled over, and he suddenly lashed out at Ashley, hitting her on the arm. Ashley winced in pain, trying to remain calm. "It's okay, Leo," she said, trying to reassure him. But Leo was beyond reason. He didn't understand that he was hurting Ashley, and he continued to flail about. In his blind frustration, Leo turned to Jed, who was standing nearby, and kicked him. Jed let out a pained yelp as he stumbled backward, clutching his shin. Ashley quickly got up and tried to intervene, but Leo was too far gone. In a moment of desperation, Leo turned to Ashley and sank his teeth into her arm. Ashley cried out in pain, trying to gently pry Leo's teeth loose. Jed rushed over, trying to help Ashley, but Leo was relentless. Just as it seemed like things couldn't get any worse, Jed walked in with Mia, who was holding a stuffed animal and smiling brightly. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her. "Mommy?" she said, her voice trembling. Ashley's face was contorted in pain, and Jed was trying to hold Leo back. The room was chaotic, and for a moment, it seemed like everything was falling apart. Ashley tried to speak, but her voice was shaking. "Jed, help me," she said, trying to get Leo to calm down. Jed quickly scooped up Mia and tried to shield her from the scene. "It's okay, sweetie," he said, trying to reassure her. "Mommy and Leo are just having a tough time. Why don't you go play with your toy for a bit?" Mia nodded, still looking worried, and Jed set her down on the couch. She clutched her stuffed animal tightly, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. Ashley, still trying to catch her breath, looked at Jed and saw the concern etched on his face. As the reality of the situation sunk in, Ashley felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She knew that Leo's meltdowns were a part of his condition, but it didn't make it any easier to deal with. She looked at Jed, and he nodded, as if reading her thoughts. Together, they tried to calm Leo down, speaking softly and trying to reassure him that everything was okay. Slowly but surely, Leo's tantrum began to subside, replaced by a look of exhaustion and shame. Ashley sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. She was hurt, physically and emotionally, but she was also grateful that Jed was there to help her. She looked at him, and he smiled, his eyes filled with love and concern. As they stood there, trying to process what had just happened, Ashley knew that they would get through this. They would find a way to help Leo, and they would do it together, as a family.