Half a heart

Chapter 112

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Charlie pov

Sitting on the dressing room floor, I pulled my weighted blanket tighter around me, trying to ground myself, to feel safe. My in-ears muffled most of the noise around me, but even through them, I could hear the "five minutes to stage" call echoing in the hallway. It should've been the moment I was ready to go, but instead, that familiar sense of dread rose up in my chest, squeezing tight, my breaths coming too quick and shallow. The room seemed to close in, the walls tightening around me, until I couldn't think past the loud thud of my heartbeat.

I didn't even notice Jacob kneel down beside me, but I felt Max's warm body pressing into my side as he barked, his nose nudging under the blanket. It was like he knew exactly what was happening to me, even when I couldn't make sense of it. Jacob's hand gently pulled the blanket away, giving Max better access to me, and I felt his head nestling against my hand. Max nudged me again, his cold nose brushing my palm, trying to pull me out of the spiral I was in, but I could barely register it. Everything felt distant, almost unreal, like I was floating away.

But Max wouldn't let me. He did exactly what he'd been trained to do, pressing his body against me, grounding me, helping me remember where I was. His soft whine broke through the haze, his presence anchoring me until, slowly, the fog lifted. My heartbeat started to settle, and my breathing fell into rhythm with Max's steady rise and fall.

Jacob's hand rubbed my back as I came back into myself, his voice low and calm. "That's it, Charlie. Just take it easy, yeah? Max is here. We're all here."

I nodded, wiping at my face as I got to my feet, feeling the weight of Max's presence beside me. With Jacob by my side, I took a few shaky steps toward the door, Max following close, his calm gaze fixed on me. Jacob's hand stayed on my shoulder as we walked down the hall, helping me keep it together.

As we reached the stage entrance, Max trotted over to Liam, tail wagging as he sat beside him, waiting for his vest to be clipped on. Liam gave him a soft scratch behind the ears, then adjusted the vest, looking over at me with a smile that was both gentle and reassuring. I took a deep breath, feeling a bit more grounded, and stepped onto the stage with the rest of the boys. Max stayed by Liam's side, his eyes steady as he kept watch.

Liam took the microphone, his voice calm but filled with care as he addressed the crowd. "Hey, everyone. You might notice we've got a special guest with us tonight—this is Max, our service dog. He's here to help keep things safe and steady up here, and he's got an important job with us."

The crowd's cheer was warm and understanding, and it helped ease the last of the tension I'd been holding onto. I settled behind my drum kit, feeling Max's steady presence on stage, knowing he was there if I needed him. As the lights dimmed, they'd been adjusted to softer hues to avoid triggering Liam, and I felt a sense of relief settle over me.

With a final nod from Liam, I took a deep breath and started the beat, the familiar rhythm flowing through me, carrying me away from everything else. The others joined in, filling the arena with our music, each note building on the last, until it felt like we were all wrapped in something we'd created together.