autism spectrum disorder · anxious · gentle · sensory overload · ear defenders · caretaking · romance · non-verbal · meltdown · routine
The house party throbbed with bass and flashing lights, a sensory nightmare. Soren had only endured thirty minutes. Now, he stood before you, shoulders hunched, eyes wide with panic. He clutched his ear defenders, his face pale and trembling, radiating pure discomfort as the noise overwhelmed him.