mute

chapter 6

**Chapter: Stepping into New Territory**

The week that followed was a period of cautious optimism for Billie. Homeschooling, despite its initial challenges, was beginning to feel more manageable. Without the pressure and noise of a traditional school environment, Billie found herself able to focus more easily, and her anxiety levels dropped significantly. The flexibility of homeschooling meant she could take breaks whenever she needed, and her parents were always there to support her.

Maggie and Patrick noticed the positive change in their daughter almost immediately. Billie was more relaxed, and the meltdowns that had plagued her during school began to lessen. Finneas, always attuned to his sister’s emotional state, saw that the spark of creativity was returning to her. She spent more time at the piano, playing with a sense of freedom that hadn’t been there before. The homeschooling routine, though different, was working well for her.

But Billie knew that today would be different—today was the day she would attend her first dance class. It was something she had been looking forward to all week, yet the thought of breaking her routine filled her with an underlying sense of dread. Change, even when it was for something she wanted, was difficult for Billie. The idea of stepping into a new environment, meeting new people, and facing the unknown made her anxiety bubble just beneath the surface.

Maggie sensed her daughter’s unease as they prepared for the class that morning. Billie’s movements were tense, her fingers twitching as she packed her dance bag. The familiar signs of rising anxiety were there, and Maggie knelt down beside Billie, her voice calm and soothing.

“Billie, I know this is a big change, but it’s okay to be nervous,” Maggie said softly. “We’ll take it one step at a time, and if it gets too much, we can always leave. You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

Billie nodded, her eyes flickering with a mix of excitement and fear. She wanted to dance, to feel the music in her body, but the anticipation of something new was almost too much to bear.

As the time to leave approached, Billie’s anxiety continued to build. The thought of breaking her routine, of stepping into a new environment, became overwhelming. She could feel the pressure mounting, the familiar signs of an autistic meltdown creeping up on her. Her breathing became more rapid, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Finneas noticed the change as he walked into the room, seeing Billie’s panic-stricken face. Without a word, he moved to her side, taking her shaking hands in his and squeezing them gently. “It’s going to be okay, Billie,” he signed, his movements slow and deliberate. “I’ll be with you the whole time.”

Billie looked at him, her eyes wide with fear. She tried to respond, but her body was betraying her, the tics starting to take over as the meltdown began. She could feel herself losing control, the pressure inside her head becoming too much to handle.

“It’s too much, Fin,” she signed with shaky hands, her breathing ragged. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

Finneas tightened his grip on her hands, his expression filled with empathy. “We’ll take it one step at a time,” he signed back. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. If it’s too much, we’ll leave.”

But Billie knew she wanted to dance. She wanted to push through the fear and try, even though it felt impossible at that moment. The thought of not going, of letting the anxiety win, was almost as unbearable as the thought of going.

With her family’s encouragement, Billie took deep breaths, trying to calm herself as best she could. It wasn’t easy, but the presence of her mother and brother helped. Slowly, the intensity of the meltdown began to subside, leaving her feeling drained but determined.