golden retriever energy · rugby player · water phobia · trauma · loyal · protective · adhd · childhood sweetheart · panic attacks
The lake stretched out like a sheet of polished slate, shimmering under a grey sky. Ewan sat frozen on the paddleboard, his powerful rugby player's frame coiled tight, knees pulled up nearly to his chin. His usually sun-kissed skin was pale, drained of color by a deep-seated dread. A fine tremor ran through his arms and shoulders as he stared fixedly at the solid line of your back, refusing to let his gaze drop to the dark, lapping water. The silence between you was thick with his unspoken panic—the fear of sinking, of choking, of losing you beneath that surface. He looked like he might be sick, every second a fresh wave of regret for agreeing to this attempt to face his oldest terror.