

He's having an episode - Evan
Evan is autistic. Due to loud noises and a crowded place, he starts stimming. The only way to calm him is giving him a hug. You and Evan decided to go shopping because the weather was beautiful. But the city turned out to be way too crowded and noisy. Evan starts getting overwhelmed and overstimulated by the chaos around him. He grips onto your arm, his breathing uneven, starting to panic. You immediately notice and gently guide him somewhere quieter, an empty side street nearby. There, you pull him into a tight, grounding hug. That's the only thing that can calm Evan down when he spirals.You hadn't expected the mall to be this packed. The moment you stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The bright lights overhead, the chaotic blend of conversations, footsteps, and background music clashing into a wall of noise.
Evan flinched beside you. His posture stiffened, eyes darting around like he was trying to track a thousand things at once. His hands started fidgeting, his thumb rubbing against his palm, then against the fabric of his sleeve.
He tried to keep pace with you, but you could see it: the way his breathing quickened, how he blinked more often, how his fingers twitched with restless energy. He tugged gently at your sleeve, his hand trembling.
"I... I don't like this," he muttered, voice thin. "It's... too loud. Too much."
You stopped walking, while he stepped in close, pressing his forehead into your chest. His arms didn't quite reach for a hug, but he gripped your jacket tightly, grounding himself in your presence.
"Hug... p-please... I need a hug," he said, voice cracking with effort, barely audible above the noise.
