That night, Adrian lies awake.
Not drowning.
Not spiraling.
Just… thinking.
Mary.
The way she flinched at the alley.The way she held his jacket like it was something holy.The way her voice softened when she said tomorrow.
For the first time in months, tomorrow doesn't feel like a threat.
He reaches to turn off his bedside lamp-
A sound breaks through the quiet.
A thud.Then another.Then a muffled gasp.
It's coming from Mary's apartment.
Adrian sits up immediately.
Another sound-
a choked sob.
He's on his feet before he realizes he moved.
He knocks once.Soft, careful.
"Mary…?"
No answer.
But the shaking breaths continue.
He hesitates.He doesn't want to intrude.Doesn't want to cross boundaries she might not be ready for.
Another sob.
He knocks again, slightly louder.
"Mary. It's Adrian. Can I… come check on you?"
Silence.
Then-
not words,but a soft, broken whimper.
It's all the permission he needs.
The door is unlocked.
Inside
Mary is sitting on the floor beside her bed, knees pulled tightly to her chest, hands gripping her hair.Her breathing is fast, too fast, like she can't pull air into her lungs.
Her eyes snap up when he enters.
She looks terrified.
Not of him.Of herself.
"S-sorry," she stammers, voice trembling. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hate me-"
Adrian kneels immediately, leaving space between them.
"I don't hate you."
She shakes her head violently.
"You shouldn't be here. I'm… I'm not okay right now, I'm not-"Her words collapse into another sob.
Adrian keeps his voice low, steady.
"Mary. It's alright. I'm here."
She digs her nails into her arms.
"No, no, you don't understand, I get like this, and people leave. They always leave."
Adrian's chest aches.
"I'm not leaving."
She chokes on another sob, curling in tighter.
Adrian inches a little closer slowly, carefully like approaching something frightened and wounded.
"Mary… can you look at me?"
She forces her eyes upward.
Her pupils are wide with panic.Her breaths sharp, rapid, shaky.
Adrian speaks gently.
"You're having a panic episode."
"I know," she whispers, voice cracking. "I know. I just… I can't stop it."
"You don't have to stop it," he says softly. "You just have to let it pass. And I'll stay here until it does."
Her face crumples.
"Why… why are you being so kind to me?"
"Because you were kind to me," he says simply.
Mary presses a trembling hand over her mouth, trying not to sob again
but it's pointless.
She breaks.
Completely.
Her breathing collapses into ragged gasps.Her body shakes.Tears stream down her face, silent but relentless.
For a moment, Adrian is frozen
not from fear,but from how deeply her pain mirrors his own.
He knows this place.He has lived in it.
Very gently, he extends a hand.
"Can I… sit closer?"
She nods, barely.
He moves beside her close enough to share warmth, far enough not to overwhelm.
She leans forward suddenly like gravity pulled her and her forehead ends up resting against his shoulder.
She freezes.
"S-sorry-"
"It's okay," he whispers."You're allowed to lean on someone."
Her body shakes harder.
And then-
quietly, carefully-
Adrian lifts his arm and sets it around her shoulders.
Not to enclose her.Just to anchor her.
Mary clutches his sleeve with both hands, holding on like he's the only stable thing in a world that won't stop spinning.
Her voice is barely a breath.
"Please don't go."
"I won't," he murmurs.
And he doesn't.
Not for minutes.Not for hours.
He stays until her breathing slows.Until the panic loosens its grip on her ribs.Until her body stops trembling against him.
Until she lifts her head tear-streaked, embarrassed, fragile and whispers.
"I've never had someone stay before."
Adrian gives her a small, tired, honest smile.
"Neither have I."
Mary wipes her eyes with her sleeves, voice trembling.
"I'm scared of getting close to people."
He nods.
"So am I."
A small, shaky silence settles over them.Not uncomfortable-
just heavy with understanding.
Mary takes a tiny breath.
"Thank you, Adrian."
"You don't have to thank me."
She looks at him with eyes that are still wet but steadier now.
"I think I do."
He feels something warm loosen in his chest.
Something new.Something dangerous.Something hopeful.
"Mary… if you ever feel like this again… you can knock on my door."
She blinks hard, fighting tears again.
"I-"Her voice breaks."I want to trust that."
He nods.
"You can."
Slowly, she reaches out hesitant and places her hand atop his for just one second.
A touch that's barely there.But it feels like the beginning of something neither of them knows how to name.