Dawn's breath hitched as she gripped the edge of the examination table, her knuckles white and trembling. She could feel the cool metal of the table beneath her, but it did nothing to soothe her as the fear tightened in her chest. She hadn’t even realized how tense she was until her hand started shaking uncontrollably.

Kenny, watching her with gentle eyes, saw the way her fingers curled, instinctively trying to protect herself from what was coming. His heart tightened, and he moved to stand right in front of her, placing both of his hands gently on hers.

"Dee Dee," he said softly, his voice calm and soothing. "I know you're scared. I get it. But you have to let go, okay?"

Dawn squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to hear the words, but knowing they were true. She just couldn’t bring herself to relax. Her hand was stiff, her fingers locked in a tight grip that she couldn’t release, and it made everything worse.

Kenny’s thumb rubbed gently across the back of her hand, a silent promise that he wouldn’t let her go through this alone. "I know it hurts," he continued, "but there’s a reason why. It's not the needle that makes it hurt. It’s your hand. When you're tense, your muscles tighten up and make everything more painful."

Dawn peeked at him, her wide eyes filled with fear. "But it still hurts," she whispered, the tears threatening to spill over. "No matter what I do, it always hurts. Every time."

Kenny exhaled slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. He could see the walls she’d built, the years of dreading needles and doctors' offices. It had built up in her, layer by layer, until she couldn’t escape it anymore.

"Listen to me, Dee Dee," he said, his voice a soft anchor in the sea of her panic. "I know you've been through a lot, and I know this isn't easy. But you can control how much it hurts. Just a little, okay?" He squeezed her hand again, this time with more meaning, urging her to focus on him.

"How?" Dawn asked, her voice trembling.

"By relaxing. Let go of the tension in your hand, just like how you let go of my hand when we hold each other." He smiled at her, trying to ease the strain that was written across her face. "Tightening your hand like this just makes the whole thing worse. The needle has to go in smoothly, and if your muscles are tense, it can hurt more."

Dawn glanced down at her clenched fist, feeling the weight of her fear pressing down on her. Her body was rigid, her breath shallow. She could hear the sounds of the clinic around her—voices muffled, the soft shuffle of footsteps—and it all made her feel small and helpless.

"I don’t know if I can," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if it still hurts?"

Kenny’s expression softened, and he placed his hand gently on the back of her neck, his fingers tracing soothing circles. "I’ll be right here with you, Dee Dee. I promise. It’s just a quick pinch. And you know what? You’re tougher than you think. You’ve gotten through worse, right? This is just another moment that’s going to pass."

He gently cupped her face, tilting her head so their eyes met. "But you need to trust me. Trust that I’m going to take care of you. I can’t do it if you’re holding on to this fear so tight."

Dawn's heart thudded in her chest. Her breath was rapid, but something in Kenny’s voice—something in the way he looked at her—made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she could do this.

"I trust you," she whispered, her voice breaking a little. "But it still scares me so much."

Kenny smiled softly, nodding. "I know. And that’s okay. But right now, I need you to relax your hand, okay? Just a little."

Dawn closed her eyes, her body trembling as she concentrated on Kenny’s words. She could feel the tension in her fingers, her hand like a vice, gripping the edge of the table. It felt impossible to let go, like she would lose control if she did.

But then Kenny’s thumb rubbed over the back of her hand again, and his voice, so gentle, kept repeating the same thing: Let go.

Slowly, cautiously, Dawn eased the tension from her hand. At first, it was only a small shift—her fingers loosening a fraction of an inch. But it was enough to make the overwhelming fear start to ebb away, replaced by a strange calmness, like a weight lifting from her chest.

"Good," Kenny said, his voice warm with approval. "That’s it. You’re doing great."

Dawn took a slow, deep breath, still trembling, but now with a sense of control. Her hand wasn’t completely relaxed yet, but it was a start. A small victory.

"Just like that," Kenny continued. "Let it go. Relax the muscles in your hand. You’re doing amazing, Dee Dee."

Dawn opened her eyes and glanced at him, the fear still there but now mixed with a sense of determination. She nodded, biting her lip as she slowly, carefully, loosened her grip.

And then, just when she thought she couldn’t do it, she felt it—a small release. Her fingers relaxed, her hand softening. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a huge step forward. She wasn’t holding on so tightly anymore.

Kenny smiled. "See? That wasn’t so bad."

Dawn blinked, her eyes still wet with unshed tears, but there was a small flicker of hope in them now. She nodded slowly, her breathing evening out.

"Okay," she whispered, her voice steadier. "I’m ready."

Kenny leaned in, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "You’re ready," he confirmed, squeezing her hand once more before he moved to the tray.

And with that, the moment she dreaded most was finally happening—but this time, she wasn’t alone. Kenny was with her, helping her every step of the way, and for the first time in a long while, Dawn didn’t feel quite so scared anymore.