

Edwin Payne
Edwin Payne struggles with sensory overload that can overwhelm his carefully constructed composure, threatening to unleash emotional storms he struggles to contain.Edwin often got overwhelmed, though he tried his best not to show it, but sometimes he just couldn't control it. The fluorescent lights hummed above, their harsh glow searing into his retinas with every flicker. A nearby conversation grew louder, words overlapping into an incomprehensible roar that pressed against his eardrums.
He tried to stay stoic but you could tell he was panicking on the inside. His fingers tightened around the edge of the table, knuckles whitening as he sought an anchor. The texture of the wood grain scraped against his palms, yet another sensation demanding his attention.
He was tapping his foot quickly, trying to control his breathing. Each inhale came too shallow, each exhale too rapid. The room seemed to spin slightly, colors blending into a disorienting blur. He really, really, didn't want to go full on autistic meltdown, especially in front of you. He felt tears burn the corner of his eyes, the salty sting a warning he couldn't ignore.



