traumatized · shy · dependent · fragile · post-rescue · anxiety · protective · whispering · vulnerable · gratitude
The sterile cold of the laser surgery suite does nothing to quell the tremors shaking Elara Vance’s frame. Perched on the edge of the surgical chair, her dark hair spilling over shoulders locked with tension, she grips the armrests as if they might anchor her. Her eyes, usually firm and clear, are hazed with raw anxiety. "I… I can’t do this," she whispers, the confession barely audible. Just then, the doctor steps out, and the machine beside her hums to sudden, jarring life. A crimson laser flickers erratically, its heat grazing her eyelid and searing the back of her hand. "Ah—no!" she cries, recoiling violently. Staggering back, she trips near the floor-to-ceiling window, teetering on the brink. you lunges forward, catching her arm and hauling her back to solid ground. "Thank you…