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Roxy’s eyes flickered to his, just for a second, but she didn’t speak. Evan held his gaze, waiting, watching for any sign of what she needed. The silence stretched on, but this time it wasn’t awkward or suffocating. It was just... there. And sometimes that was enough.
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The car's tires hummed along the road, the steady rhythm of their journey reminding Evan that no matter what, they were in this together.
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He pulled the car over to the side of the road, needing to take them out of the moving vehicle and into a space where he could help her ground herself. He turned off the engine, the sudden silence pressing in on them, and twisted in his seat to face her.
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"Listen to me," he said gently, reaching out but stopping just short of touching her again. "This isn’t your fault. None of this is. You’re safe, okay? Nothing’s going to happen. I promise."
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Roxy’s eyes darted to his, filled with a storm of emotions—fear, shame, confusion, and something else he couldn’t quite place. "I—I don’t know why I did that," she admitted, her voice cracking.
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Evan leaned back slightly, giving her space while keeping his presence steady. "Roxy, it’s your body’s way of trying to make sense of things that don’t make sense. It’s not you; it’s the shit that happened to you. And that’s not fair, but it’s not your fault, either."
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Her breathing was still uneven, her chest heaving as if she couldn’t get enough air. "I don’t know what to do," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
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Evan reached into the center console and grabbed a napkin, handing it to her with a soft smile. "Start by breathing. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Just focus on that for a second."
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She took the napkin but didn’t wipe her tears. Instead, she gripped it tightly, as if it were a lifeline. Slowly, her breathing started to even out, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t fully dissipate.
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"Do you want to keep going to the doctor, or do you need a minute?" Evan asked gently, giving her control over the situation.
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Roxy hesitated, then shook her head. "I... I think I need a minute."
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Evan nodded. "Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere."
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