Just the Way you Are

Anxiety

From my Whumptober 2021 collection. :)

Hetty was getting concerned about Granger's coffee drinking.

'How many cups of coffee have you had today?' She asked.

'None of your business.' Granger grumbled.

'I know finding this awful person is important to you, but please take care of yourself first! You seem to always be drinking coffee, you're hardly sleeping, I'm worried about you!'

'She threatened my daughter! I can't rest until this bitch is behind bars! If you love me, you'll understand.'

'That's not fair! I'm worried that you might suffer a caffine crash!' Hetty exclaimed.

'Well I won't. If you don't want to help me, then please take a step back!' Granger snapped back.

Hetty went home unhappy. She couldn't blame him, she tended to act irrationally due to anxiety boiling over when 1 of her own was in danger. But she was worried he might get hurt because of him being reckless.

The next day, she woke up, went downstairs, and saw her husband lying on the couch, shaking and crying.

'Owen? What's wrong?' She asked.

'I almost did something really bad, and you're going to be so disappointed in me and I can't blame you, and and...' Granger blubbered.

'Stop. What did you do?' Hetty asked, calmly.

'I almost hit somebody! I was getting drowsy when I was driving home, and I almost hit somebody!'

Silence.

Hetty was really stunned by his admission.

'Oh. Um, do you know why you were drowsy?' She asked slowly.

'Lack of sleep and the coffee wearing off. I can't believe I was this stupid!' Granger exclaimed.

Hetty awkwardly sat down next to him. And she wasn't sure of what to say next.

'Please say something.'

'I, don't know what to say. I can't say I'm surprised because I feared you would get hurt, and I'm relieved that you didn't. And, I see you realized you did a bad thing, and that's also nice. Anything else, I'm not sure how to respond.' Hetty replied.

Sitting up. 'After I almost hit someone, I instantly realized that if I get hurt in my pursuit for this SOB, I not only hurt my daughter, but I hurt you as well. Then this rush of emotions just came to me, and I didn't want to wake you, so I stayed down here trying to calm down. And, you were right to be worried about me.' Granger said, unhappily.

'I can see your clear guilt, so I won't pressure you to talk. Just, (putting her hand on his knees), Please try to remember that we're in this together. And get more sleep!' Then she gave a tiny smile.

Feeling relieved that she wasn't real mad at him. Granger gave her a hug. 'Thank you for being so kind.'

'You're welcome, dear!'