a normal thing - spencer reid

In a world that thrums with chaos and urgency, Spencer Reid had become a master at compartmentalization. Each day was filled with the intricate dance of case files and profiles, a steady march through the darkness of human tragedy. He was good at it; he always had been. Yet amidst the structured routine of his life in the BAU, he often found himself navigating the unseen edges of despair, where the weight of other people's suffering threatened to drown him.

During these small, quiet moments of vulnerability, he sought something to cut through the fog, to remind him there was more to life than the relentless churn of his work. That's when Emory called. Her voice-warm and genuine-offered him a glimpse of a world beyond the grind of crime scenes and psychological profiles, a world filled with vibrancy and life.

What began as a normal thing-texts and casual calls-transformed into something deeper. In both of their messy lives, where the burden of expectations and pain weighed heavily, they found solace in the beauty of a normal thing. Emory's gentle encouragement cut through his isolation, whispering that he didn't have to carry everything alone. In her presence, he discovered the permission to breathe, to be vulnerable, and to confront the weight of his struggles.