Revealing silences

Back to Reality - Aiden

Aiden closed the door behind him with a sigh of relief tinged with a hint of nervousness. The day at the amusement park had been incredible—a moment of pure happiness with his friends, far from the daily worries that always seemed to torment him. However, as he put his bag by the door and removed his shoes, a wave of tension began to build inside him.

The amusement park had been a welcome respite, but now, back at home, the walls seemed to be closing in on him. The golden light of the setting sun that had bathed the park now felt replaced by an oppressive darkness that crept into every corner of his mind. He walked slowly up the stairs to his room, each step echoing like an irregular heartbeat in his chest. He knew that returning home meant facing reality—the worries and anxieties that always seemed to accompany him, even in the most joyful moments.

As he opened the door to his room, Aiden suddenly felt overwhelmed by a familiar but dreaded sensation. His breath became shorter, and his hands began to tremble slightly. He sat on his bed, trying to regain control of his breathing, but panic started to take hold. The images of the day at the amusement park were spinning in his mind, now accompanied by an insidious distortion, as if a shadow had fallen over the happy memories. The laughter of his friends, the excitement of the rides—all seemed distant and almost unreal under the harsh light of his room.

He felt his thoughts becoming tangled, reality mingling with an altered perception of his surroundings. The sensation of losing his footing grew stronger, as if his emotions were a wild carousel from which he could not escape. His heart was pounding, drumming in his temples. He tried to remember the breathing techniques he had learned, but they seemed ineffective against the relentless rise of pure terror that threatened to overwhelm him.

Aiden stood up abruptly, feeling an urgent need to move, to find a place where he could regain control. He headed for the bathroom, rinsing his face with cold water in the hope that it would provide a respite—a reality anchor that seemed to evaporate around him. But even that wasn't enough. The walls felt like they were closing in further, and the noises of the house turned into an unbearable buzzing in his ears. A wave of nausea rose within him, and the fear of losing control became a tangible reality.

He knelt by the tub, resting his trembling hands on the cold edge, desperately searching for a way to calm the storm inside him. He felt trapped in a whirlwind of sensations, uncontrollable thoughts threatening to completely overwhelm him. His mother's voice echoed faintly through the bathroom door, softly calling his name. She had noticed something unusual in his behavior, perhaps the way he had rushed inside as soon as he returned. But to Aiden, her words seemed distant, drowned out by the turmoil in his mind.

The fear intensified as he struggled to control his breathing and suppress the irrational thoughts threatening to overwhelm him. He tried to focus on soothing images and calmer memories, but they seemed to slip away like sand through his fingers. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the crisis began to subside slowly. His breathing became more regular, and the ringing in his ears diminished. He remained kneeling there, exhausted by the physical and emotional effort of this internal battle.

When his mother finally managed to open the bathroom door, she found him curled up by the bathtub, his face pale and his eyes exhausted but now showing a glimmer of recognition. She knelt beside him, gently running her hand through his hair.

"Aiden, my love, what happened?" she whispered with tenderness and concern.

He looked up at her, unable to find the words to describe the emotional hurricane he had just experienced. But in his mother's gaze, he found silent understanding and unconditional support, bringing him some comfort even amidst the turmoil. They stayed there, in that intimate space of shared vulnerability, knowing that this crisis was only one step in his journey toward healing and understanding. Aiden knew he still had a long way to go, but with his mother by his side, he felt a bit less alone in the face of his inner demons.