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Henry(Snipehen) // Anxious 24/7

(Another educational post- this time about Anxiety mf, also its short. OK SO- Tommy boy is an anxious asshole, like, clearly, but this is about Henry's anxiety, because, being an older brother figure and always taking care of the other newsies, he acts very smart, but, when it comes to opening up about his feelings, he isn't the smartest...)

"Then what's the problem?" Henry asked Tommy, sitting infront of him on his bed. Tommy had his head in his hands and sniffled, "Can't I just stay with you and Jojo till the day is over?"
"Ok then, what about tommorow then?" Henry asked, but Tommy just shook his head. Henry sighed, "Tommy, all we need you to do is be able to speak to one new person, you've been here for 2 weeks and you've only spoken to me, Jojo and Jack so far, and you walk away whenever someone else tries to speak to you. You've gotten get over your fear of people at some point."
Tommy didn't respond, he just kept his head in his hands, crying. Henry sighed, but looked at him sympathetically, he honestly understood how Tommy was feeling. But Jack made it his and Jojos responsibility to be his friend and make sure he's not scared to be around others, and he knew it was for the best, in a place where everyone treats eachother like a family, it's important everyone's included and feels like they can trust a fellow brother when the going gets tough. And Tommy was already super comfortable with Jojo and him, but, he still barely spoke to them, unless they ask him a question, which some might say is progress, but 2 weeks of not speaking to anyone, that won't do.
"Why don't you just give if a shot? Huh? You have a rip in your shirt sleeve, why don't you ask Buttons to fix it for you?" Henry tried again, but again, he was given no response. That's when Jojo joined them, "We need to go sell."
"I know," Henry looked at his friend, "Just give me a second."
"Henry, its fine, he'll start talking when he's ready," Jojo placed his hand on Henry's back, "I get why your worried. But when you get a flare up of anxiety your just as bad."
Tommy looked up, "You get anxious too?"
Henry was about to say something but Jojo just said, "Everyone gets anxious." Henry nodded in agreement.
Tommy nodded, "But... you understand how it feels... when you feel like everyone is judging you or hates you and your stomach is in knots and all you want to do is hide in you bed all day-"  Henry instantly related to that statement, but Jojo just said, "There's no need to feel that way. Nobody is judging you or hates you." Tommy sighed and lay his head in his hands, he thought, for once, someone understood.

Henry just remembers him laying curled up on his bed, and Jojo tries to comfort him, he is non stop crying. "Henry, everything will be OK..." Jojo promised, "You can always talk to me, you know that right?"
Henry sat up and let Jojo wipe his tears but they didn't stop falling.
"Calm down, its OK..."
"It's not OK..." Henry sobbed, "Everyone thinks it was awful."
"Nobody thinks that, Henry."
Henry was given a simple task to make a cake for Jacks birthday as a surprise everyone was organising, and though the cake came out amazing, in Henry's eyes, it wasn't perfect, and if it wasn't perfect, it wasn't good enough. "Henry, everyone loved it."
"They are just saying that to spare my feelings, it's awful. My dad would make one 10 times better-"
"-and? Your not your dad, your you, and you have your own way of doing things, and your extremely talented, no reason to over think things, Henry, everyone here loves you so much."
"You're just saying that cause your my friend..."
"I'm saying that cause it's true Henry..."

He wasn't new to those little thought in the back of his head telling him he's not good enough. Even when he was little, when he baked a cake with his dad, he always felt like he was doing it wrong. And he would give up and run and hide somewhere and cry. But his dad always found him, but kept a smile on his face, "What's wrong, mijo?"
"I don't want to do it anymore..." little Henry cried.
"That's fine. But that means no cake for your sisters birthday."
Henry sniffled, "But-"
"So either you come back in the kitchen and help me finish, or Eloisa isn't going to have a cake."
Though Henry was scared to mess things up, he also didn't want to disappoint his big sister. He stood up and followed his dad back into the kitchen. That night, Henry brought the far from perfect cake to the dinner table, and instantly teared up, knowing it was bad. And he knew it was bad when Eloisa started crying, but she instantly hugged her little brother, "It's perfect, Henry, thank you, I love it so much." She was so proud of his efforts and talent, it was a pretty good cake for a 6 year old to make, and she loved it so much, she let Henry blow out the candles with her. But now she's gone, she's at boarding school far away, and his dad, also gone, he died when he was 13.

At 15, he got into his first serious relationship with his now ex girlfriend, Cybill Harlow. "All I ask, is for you to be honest with your friends."
Henry laughed nervously, "Yknow-  telling people isn't really that important." But Cybill just responded with a lifted eyebrow, "Henry, your my boyfriend, I want to be able to go out and hold your hand, kiss you, spend the night with you- please, just tell them."
Henry sighed, "You don't get it..."
She crossed her arms, "Are you embarrassed to be with me?"
"What- no-"
"Cause I don't have long pretty hair and I dress funny- I always wear a hat and-"
"You are the most gorgeous girl I know- that's not the problem-"
"Then what is?" She asked, frowning.
Henry went quiet, not knowing what to say, but what he wanted to say, he knew would upset her even more. He just went super quiet, no matter what Cybill said- "Henry I'm sorry..." "Talk to me, my love." "I love you.", she couldn't get him to talk. He just went mute, silently laying his head on her lap as she played with his hair, he had his hands on his chest and felt his heart racing so quick, it was painful, and his breathing was painfully quick aswell. He closed his eyes and his mind was so fuzzy it gave him a migraine. Cybill cupped his cheek, and could clearly tell he was having a panic attack, "Take your time..."

By the time he turned 17, he was used to his biggest comforts leaving him, first his dad, then his sister, then his girlfriend, Cybill. It was just a matter of time until Tommy or Jojo or Sniper left him. But they didn't, they always stuck by him. Which he is so thankful for, despite his little moments of panics. Henry sat on his bed, silently crying, and as soon as Sniper walked in, he noticed. He sighed and went straight to him, "What's wrong?" He sat infront of him, and noticed box Henry had in his hands. "I don't know..." Henry whispered. Sniper raised an eyebrow, "Ok then... what's this?" Sniper asked, pointing at the small box Henry was holding. Henry looked down, "I made you some semla for our one year anniversary..."
Snipers face brightened, "Aw- Babe, thank you. Happy anniversary." He gave Henry the softest kiss, but Henry just cried even more in response, and Sniper figured it out, "Is it our anniversary that's making you upset?"
Henry nodded, "We've been together for a years now- it's now just a matter of time until you admit your tired of being with me and you break up with me, and you leave and I'm all on my own-"
Sniper was about to stop him but he had another idea, "You know what, your right."
Henry looked up at him, "Wha-"
"Yeah, a year is a long time, shit. Maybe it is time for someone new, well, was fun knowing you, bye." He got up to leave but instantly Henry grabbed him by the waist and pulling him back onto the bed, holding onto his boyfriend, "No."
"See how stupid that sounds?" Sniper asked him. Henry nodded, knowing he was acting a little irrationally, he sat up and kissed Sniper exactly four times. Before wiping his lips to tick him off, "Ok, Henry, if you do that one more time, I'm leaving you for real."
Henry laughed and kissed him again, "Happy anniversary, baby."
"Happy anniversary, my love."