#therapeutic precision.

[blueoaknx]

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction 

Mitochondria are pivotal organelles responsible for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), regulation of calcium homeostasis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the initiation of apoptotic pathways. The brain’s high energy demands and sensitivity to oxidative stress make mitochondrial functionality essential for neuronal health. Recent findings underscore the critical role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the molecular mechanisms driving Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. This article provides an in-depth exploration of how mitochondrial impairment contributes to AD pathogenesis and examines emerging therapeutic approaches.

Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathological Hallmarks

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent form of dementia and presents neuropathological features including extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of hyperphosphorylated tau, synaptic dysfunction, and neuronal death. Despite decades of research, the precise etiology remains complex, involving genetic predispositions, environmental triggers, and metabolic imbalances. Mitochondrial dysfunction emerges as a central mechanism intertwining these multifactorial contributors.

Mitochondrial Functions in Neurons

Neurons depend on mitochondria for sustaining synaptic transmission, neurotransmitter synthesis, and maintaining ionic gradients essential for action potentials. Beyond energy production, mitochondria modulate intracellular calcium dynamics, synaptic plasticity, and apoptotic signaling, all of which are integral to learning and memory. Impaired mitochondrial function disrupts these processes, resulting in neuronal vulnerability and degeneration.

Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative Stress and ROS Dysregulation: Mitochondria are the primary source of ROS, which, under physiological conditions, participate in cellular signaling. In AD, impaired OXPHOS elevates ROS production, leading to oxidative damage of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), proteins, and lipids. This oxidative stress contributes to synaptic deficits, neuronal death, and exacerbates Aβ aggregation and tau hyperphosphorylation.

Amyloid-Beta-Mediated Mitochondrial Toxicity: Aβ peptides localize within mitochondria, where they interact with the inner mitochondrial membrane and components of the electron transport chain (ETC). This interaction inhibits ATP synthesis, augments ROS generation, and compromises mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, Aβ disrupts axonal transport of mitochondria, depriving synaptic regions of necessary energy supply.

Tau Pathology and Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Hyperphosphorylated tau impairs microtubule stability, disrupting the intracellular trafficking of mitochondria and other organelles. Dysregulated tau also affects mitochondrial dynamics, including fission and fusion processes, leading to an accumulation of damaged and fragmented mitochondria.

Calcium Homeostasis Impairment: Mitochondria act as buffers for cytosolic calcium. In AD, dysregulated calcium signaling exacerbates mitochondrial calcium overload, triggering permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening and initiating apoptotic cascades. Calcium dysregulation also potentiates Aβ aggregation and tau phosphorylation.

Defects in Mitochondrial Dynamics and Mitophagy: Proper mitochondrial function relies on a balance between fission and fusion processes. In AD, this balance is disrupted, leading to mitochondrial fragmentation and a reduction in mitochondrial network integrity. Impaired mitophagy—the selective autophagic clearance of damaged mitochondria—further exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal degeneration.

Genetic Correlations Between Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Alzheimer’s Disease

APOE-ε4 Allele: The APOE-ε4 variant, a significant genetic risk factor for sporadic AD, has been associated with heightened oxidative stress and impaired mitochondrial efficiency.

Presenilin Mutations: Mutations in PSEN1 and PSEN2, linked to familial AD, disrupt calcium signaling and mitochondrial function, exacerbating cellular stress and neuronal loss.

mtDNA Mutations: Increased somatic mutations and deletions in mtDNA observed in AD patients suggest a direct mitochondrial genomic contribution to the disease.

Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Antioxidant Therapies:

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants such as coenzyme Q10, MitoQ, and SS-31 aim to mitigate oxidative stress and preserve mitochondrial integrity.

Enhancement of Mitochondrial Biogenesis:

Pharmacological agents activating PGC-1α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α) enhance mitochondrial biogenesis, improving neuronal energy metabolism.

Calcium Modulation:

Drugs like memantine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, help restore calcium homeostasis, reducing excitotoxicity and mitochondrial stress.

Promotion of Mitophagy:

Urolithin A and other mitophagy-enhancing compounds facilitate the clearance of defective mitochondria, preventing their accumulation and associated toxicity.

Gene-Based Therapies:

Gene-editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 offer potential for correcting mtDNA mutations and modulating genes implicated in mitochondrial quality control.

Lifestyle Interventions:

Dietary Approaches: Ketogenic diets and caloric restriction enhance mitochondrial efficiency and reduce ROS.

Physical Exercise: Regular aerobic activity stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and improves oxidative resilience.

Optimized Sleep: Adequate sleep promotes mitochondrial repair and the removal of toxic protein aggregates such as Aβ.

Advancements and Research Directions

Emerging research employs cutting-edge technologies like single-cell transcriptomics, super-resolution microscopy, and metabolomics to unravel the mitochondrial mechanisms underlying AD. Novel drug delivery systems targeting mitochondria and the development of nanotechnologies further hold promise for precision therapeutics.

Conclusion

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a cornerstone in the complex pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, intersecting with oxidative stress, Aβ and tau pathology, calcium dysregulation, and impaired dynamics. Targeting mitochondrial pathways through pharmacological interventions, gene therapy, and lifestyle modifications offers a promising avenue for mitigating disease progression. Continued research into mitochondrial biology and its interplay with neurodegeneration is essential for developing transformative therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.

[bitcoinversus]

CRISPR Therapeutics Makes TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 List

CRISPR Therapeutics has earned a place on TIME‘s “Best Inventions of 2024” list, celebrated for transformative gene-editing therapies that tackle complex genetic disorders. CRISPR’s revolutionary CASGEVY treatment, designed for sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia (TDT), is the first FDA-approved CRISPR-based…

[medical-billing-service-0]

Optimizing Financial Management with Chiropractic Billing Services

In the healthcare sector, chiropractic care plays a vital role in managing musculoskeletal conditions, improving mobility, and enhancing patients' overall quality of life. However, managing the financial aspects of a chiropractic practice can be challenging due to the unique nature of treatments, frequent patient visits, and varying insurance policies. This is where medical billing services come into play, ensuring that chiropractic practices can focus on providing care while their financial operations run smoothly. These services streamline the billing process, minimize errors, and enhance reimbursement rates, which ultimately leads to better revenue management for chiropractic practices.

What Are Chiropractic Billing Services?

Chiropractic billing services are specialized financial solutions designed to meet the unique needs of chiropractic practices. These services are a critical component of Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) services, which oversee the entire process of patient billing, from claim submission to final payment. Chiropractic billing services handle everything from insurance verification and coding of chiropractic adjustments to following up on claims and managing denials. Since chiropractic care often involves ongoing treatments and multiple patient visits, these billing services ensure that claims are submitted accurately and promptly, reducing delays and maximizing revenue.

The Importance of Medical Billing and Coding in Chiropractic Care

Accurate medical billing and coding is essential for chiropractic practices to ensure that they are compensated for the services they provide. Chiropractic care involves various treatments, such as spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and other therapeutic services, each of which requires precise coding to avoid errors. Incorrect or incomplete coding can lead to claim denials or underpayments, which can negatively affect a practice’s cash flow. By partnering with experienced billing professionals who specialize in medical billing and coding, chiropractic practices can ensure that their claims are submitted correctly and in compliance with industry standards, leading to improved financial outcomes.

Benefits of Healthcare IT in Chiropractic Billing

In the digital age, Healthcare IT has transformed the way billing services are managed, offering numerous benefits for chiropractic practices. Advanced billing software and electronic health record (EHR) systems streamline the billing process by automating tasks such as claim submission, coding, and patient record management. Healthcare IT reduces human error, speeds up payment cycles, and allows for better communication between chiropractic providers and insurance companies. Additionally, real-time tracking and reporting features enable chiropractic practices to monitor the status of claims and payments, ensuring that revenue is managed efficiently. Healthcare IT enhances both the accuracy and efficiency of chiropractic billing, leading to improved practice operations.

Chiropractic Billing Services at Mediclaim Management

Mediclaim Management offers specialized Chiropractic Billing Services designed to meet the needs of chiropractic practices. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges that chiropractors face, their team of billing experts ensures that all aspects of the billing process are handled with precision and care. Mediclaim Management’s Chiropractic Billing Services help providers reduce billing errors, increase claim approval rates, and expedite reimbursements. By partnering with Mediclaim Management, chiropractic practices can focus on delivering high-quality care to their patients while ensuring that their financial operations run smoothly in the background.

With Mediclaim Management’s Chiropractic Billing Services, chiropractic providers can optimize their revenue cycle, reduce financial stress, and ensure that their practice remains financially healthy. This allows chiropractors to focus on what truly matters—improving the health and well-being of their patients.

[market-insider]

Clinical Trials : Holistic Exploration of the Current State and Future Outlook

The global clinical trials market size is expected to reach USD 123.5 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 6.49 from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. An increase in the volume and complexity of clinical trials has been witnessed lately, which plays an important role in the R&D of new drugs and products. The market witnessed a decline of 6% in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market is projected to recover from 2021 onwards. In addition, clinical trials have become increasingly costly, adding to the overall cost of developing a drug.

Clinical Trials Market Report Highlights

The phase III clinical trials segment dominated the market with a 53.3% share in 2023. This can be attributed to the complexity of this phase

The interventional studies segment dominated the market in 2023. It is one of the most prominent methods used in clinical trials in the study design segment owing to the increasing demand for the intervention for clinical trials by researchers

North America held 50.3% of the market share in 2023. Favorable government initiatives and the presence of a large number of players in the U.S. that offer advanced services are responsible for market growth

Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period owing to the increasing patient pool and cost-efficient services.

For More Details or Sample Copy please visit link @: Clinical Trials Market Report

The increasing need for developing new drugs for chronic diseases, such as cancer, respiratory disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and others, is creating immense pressure on the healthcare industry. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing demand for developing a suitable treatment are driving the market. The high number of people affected by the disease further depicts an increasing need for therapeutics & vaccines. Currently, there are 288 therapeutics and 106 vaccines under development, out of which, nearly 7.0% of therapeutics are in Phase IV, 21.0% in Phase III, and 43.0% & 13.0% in Phase II & Phase I, respectively.

The pandemic has resulted in the global disruption of traditional onsite clinical trials. Hence, regulatory bodies worldwide have undertaken various initiatives for fast-tracking clinical trials for the development of innovative solutions. One such instance is Solidarity, an international clinical trial launched by the WHO to find effective treatment against COVID-19. Although the pandemic has forced many medical device & drug developers to revise the approach to such crises, integrating best practices within clinical trial procedures & adapting to virtual trials, which can support the continuous development of therapeutics.

ClinicalTrials #HealthcareResearch #MedicalInnovation #DrugDevelopment #PatientRecruitment #Biopharmaceuticals #ClinicalResearch #RegulatoryCompliance #DataManagement #PatientEngagement #PrecisionMedicine #TherapeuticTrials #CROs #ClinicalResearchOrganizations #GlobalHealth #ClinicalStudyDesign #PharmaceuticalIndustry #BiotechResearch #ClinicalEndpoints #HealthTechIntegration

[dental1234]

"Beyond Borders: Finding the Best Dentists Near Illinois, Niles, and Des Plaines"

Embark on a journey "Beyond Borders" as we explore the quest for the best dentists near Illinois, Niles, and Des Plaines. In the expansive landscape of Illinois, finding the best dentists near Illinois transcends geographical boundaries. These dental professionals redefine the standards of care, offering a comprehensive approach that goes beyond the ordinary, ensuring your oral health journey is characterized by precision, commitment, and excellence.

For residents of Niles, the search for the best dentists near Niles becomes an adventure beyond city limits. These practitioners in Niles are dedicated to providing top-tier dental care, emphasizing preventive measures, therapeutic solutions, and cosmetic enhancements. Your journey to optimal oral wellness in Niles takes you beyond borders, where each visit to the dentist becomes an exploration of superior care and personalized attention.

In the charming community of Des Plaines, the best dentists near Des Plaines beckon you to explore dental care beyond the conventional. Beyond city limits, these practitioners redefine the dental experience, blending advanced technologies with a compassionate touch. Your journey to a radiant smile in Des Plaines becomes a borderless exploration, where the boundaries of conventional care are surpassed for an enhanced and transformative experience.

"Beyond Borders: Finding the Best Dentists in Illinois, Niles, and Des Plaines" invites you to step into a realm where superior dental care knows no bounds. Whether in Illinois, Niles, or Des Plaines, let this exploration guide you beyond borders, where every smile receives the attention and expertise it deserves, transcending geographical limits for an unparalleled dental experience.

[mental-mona]

“The Jewish response to trauma is counter-intuitive and extraordinary. You defeat fear by joy. You conquer terror by collective celebration. You prepare a festive meal, invite guests, give gifts to friends. While the story is being told, you make an unruly noise as if not only to blot out the memory of Amalek, but to make a joke out of the whole episode. You wear masks. You drink a little too much. You make a Purim spiel.” Precisely because the threat was so serious, you refuse to be serious – and in that refusal you are doing something very serious indeed. You are denying your enemies a victory. You are declaring that you will not be intimidated. As the date of the scheduled destruction approaches, you surround yourself with the single most effective antidote to fear: joy in life itself. As the three-sentence summary of Jewish history puts it: “They tried to destroy us. We survived. Let’s eat.” Humour is the Jewish way of defeating hate. What you can laugh at, you cannot be held captive by.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt"l, "The Therapeutic Joy of Purim," article published 1 March 2015

[innonurse]

US: The FDA has updated mammography standards to mandate reporting of breast density information and improve facility monitoring

- By InnoNurse Staff -

The FDA published updates to mammography regulations on March 9 that, among other things, require mammography facilities to notify patients about the density of their breasts, strengthen the FDA's oversight and enforcement of facilities, and assist interpreting physicians in better categorizing and assessing mammograms.

Read more at U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

///

Other recent news and insights

Allorion Therapeutics, a cancer and autoimmune disease precision medicine company, has raised $50 million in Series B funding (Allorion Therapeutics/PRNewswire)

A feasible and efficient novel community-based TB diagnostic tool has been developed (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

Picture Health, an AI startup, is developing a novel biomarker of twisted blood arteries for clinical use in order to better predict patient outcomes (Picture Health/PRNewswire)

[teratosfavouritesnack]

When you decided to purchase one of the latest models of Jack of all Trades, you had no clue how much your life would change... for the better!

As the name suggests, this robot assistant possesses all of the necessary skills to maintain a home clean and safe. You don't have to worry about sweeping the floor, doing the laundry, or cooking when you have no energy for it. Intruders, gas leaks, and power outages are no longer a concern. Your house never looked neater or felt more secure, and your back has never been more grateful.

You had no idea how far his talents would extend, though. Not until one day the robot came to your bedroom and scanned your body - you could tell by the way the circle in its glassy eyes dilated and narrowed like the lens of a camera. Then it stated "Mx, your levels of oxytocin are dropping. Let me be of assistance." You tried convincing him you were alright, but the robot persisted that an oxytocin deficiency could lead to depression, irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety, cardiovascular issues... and so you indulged it, even if only to end the awful litany.

"I can offer sexual intercourse, a therapeutic massage, a session of meditation or aromatherapy-"

"Wait. What? Sexual intercourse?

The robot delivered an affirmative beep before lowering its belly plate. An appendage emerged in the shape of a human penis, though it was wrapped in silicone and resembled a luxurious sex toy. You were so shocked that your mouth opened and closed, unable to utter a word. The heat pooling between your legs however was undeniable, hard to ignore even for the robot. You saw its eyes examine you again. "Your heartbeat has accelerated and your body heat has risen."

Taking those details as an indication that this was exactly what you needed, it moved closer to you. With automated movements, it so effortlessly pulled you to the edge of the bed and removed your bottom clothes. You were so baffled by what was happening that you could only stare in awe at the robot as its metal hands wrapped around your thighs and pried them open. The precise and curt roll of its hips as it slid its appendage inside you made you gasp out loud. You could feel the synthetic dick change size inside your walls, moulding to your cunt and filling every crevice of your channel before it started moving back and forth.

You thought you couldn't be any more shocked than this, but when the synthetic cock started buzzing, making your whole body shake, you completely lost it. The fact that his fingers started vibrating when the robot pressed them onto your swollen clit, intensified your climax tenfold as it crashed upon you, sending your body spasming violently and arching against its cool metal plates.

It remained still, keeping its appendage inside you until your tremors subsided. Then it checked your vitals again and seemingly satisfied by the results, it pulled out of you. It meticulously cleaned you with the same efficiency it employs in wiping every inch of your house clean, then stopped to gaze at your astonished face.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Mx?"

"N-No... Thank you."

So, with a cheerful beep, it walked out of your room, leaving you laying half-naked on your bed, speechless and with your mind spinning.

🪷. You can leave a tip on ko-fi if you want to support me <3

[twistedcrumbs2]

A Premium Shower with Vil Schonheint

Another One from the intrusive thoughts series. Deal with it.

For Vil Schoenheit, sharing a premium shower with you at least once a month is more than just a habit — it’s a ritual, sacred and unwavering. He follows this tradition religiously, treating it as a cornerstone of your relationship. To him, it’s the perfect moment to unwind by your side, to wash away the stress of life, and to reconnect with you on a deeply intimate level.

Vil won’t deny it: it’s therapeutic. There’s something about those moments that feels almost magical — the soft scent of your shampoo, the smooth texture of your skin against his, the warm glow of candlelight reflecting off the water. For someone who cherishes every little detail, this kind of closeness is pure gold. It’s also an opportunity for him to slow down and talk to you, undisturbed by the chaos of daily life.

And let’s face it — dating a man who’s a renowned actor, model, singer, and part-time influencer means that finding time together isn’t easy. Vil’s schedule is constantly packed with filming, runway shows, photoshoots, and rehearsals. The physical distance is an unfortunate reality of your relationship, which is exactly why he treasures these intimate moments so much.

But don’t mistake this for an ordinary shower. It’s anything but. Your premium shower is a full-fledged event, complete with a step-by-step process that Vil orchestrates with precision. He transforms the bathroom into a luxurious spa: the water temperature is always perfect, the bath is infused with rich bath salts for silky-soft skin, and fragrant candles are strategically placed to create an atmosphere that’s nothing short of enchanting. Yes, the shower is taken in the dark, but the candlelight adds a warm, serene glow, making the space feel like a scene straight out of a luxury product commercial.

Of course, Vil has an entire collection of high-end products reserved solely for these occasions. Only the best brands with top-tier ingredients make the cut. You’ve both turned this into a shared passion, constantly messaging each other about new finds, exchanging reviews of shampoos, hair masks, and body washes. Vil often indulges in impulse purchases during his travels, buying products just so he can test them with you. Your bathroom cabinet is overflowing with these treasures, but neither of you can resist adding more — because life is better with options, isn’t it?

When the time finally comes, Vil begins by meticulously washing your hair. He’s methodical: first, a pre-shampoo treatment, followed by a scalp massage to stimulate hair growth, then a rich hydrating mask, and finally, a conditioner to seal in all the goodness. His touch is so careful and deliberate that it feels like you’ve stepped into a five-star salon. And, of course, Vil expects you to return the favor. Not that he ever says so outright — he simply rests his head in your lap and waits, trusting you’ll match his effort.

One of his favorite parts? Watching you melt under his touch as he massages your scalp. The way your shoulders relax and your eyes flutter closed gives him a quiet sense of satisfaction. Moments like these remind him why these rituals are so special.

But nothing compares to the moment he pulls you into his arms under the warm water. The tranquil stillness, broken only by the sound of your breathing, feels like a sanctuary. Vil closes his eyes, wishing — just for a second — that time would stop, allowing him to stay in this peaceful bubble with you forever.

While the products work their magic on your hair, Vil takes the opportunity to share stories about his latest projects. He talks about photo shoots, rehearsals, and behind-the-scenes tidbits from his films. Naturally, he also seizes the chance to educate you about the products you're using. He’s a walking encyclopedia of beauty knowledge, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.

After the bath, the ritual isn’t over — far from it. Next comes the exfoliation. Vil carefully applies a gentle scrub, working it into your skin with slow, deliberate strokes. He doesn’t miss a spot: arms, legs, back — every inch of you is treated with the same meticulous attention. When it’s his turn, you do your best to match his expertise, but he always smiles knowingly and offers gentle corrections.

And then comes the highlight: the oil massage. Vil’s hands work wonders, gliding across your skin with practiced ease. His touch is so soothing that you’ve fallen asleep more than once. He doesn’t mind — in fact, he finds it endearing to see you so completely at ease.

Finally, there’s the last step: skincare. Wrapped in matching velvet robes, Vil leads you to the bathroom sink for a complete routine. From the cleansing foam to the serums and hydrating masks, every step is executed with the precision of someone who takes beauty very seriously. You do your best to follow along, but it’s hard not to get distracted by the passion in his voice as he explains the purpose of each product.

By the end of it all, both of you feel utterly renewed. Your skin glows, your body feels light, and your mind is at peace. Vil lies beside you with a contented smile, already looking forward to the next premium shower. And you? Well, you can hardly wait either.

[mm-lurking]

To him, you are love.

Something I wrote in my friend’s dms while my simping juices were flowing. Written with Blade and Al-Haitham in my mind, but you can imagine your favourites.

Warnings: x fem! reader, pure fluff — The idea of his large, rough calloused yet gentle hands as he rests them on your smaller frame; he’s shocked by just how tiny you are and how he can fully enclose you in his arms like a vine that snakes around tree branches

The idea of just pressing your back into his chest and resting your head on the crook of his neck as his face and hair shades you from everything else and his beating heart soothes you

The idea of them just learning to sit with you in silence, learning to understand what love and to be loved is like, the silent message that their heavy breathing speaks, the gentleness in holding you in their arms as they protect you with quite literally everything they have

The idea of them just admiring you as you close your eyes and inhale their scent, completely satisfied with their existence while they struggle to embrace the concept of affection; it's so foreign but so pleasant and they cant help it because it's you, it's you whose breaking their barriers down and letting them know how to love

The idea of how he looks at you with such gentleness and tenderness and he finds an uncertain emotion stirring in his heart, the emotions violently tug on his heart strings and he just knows he's going to have you around for the rest of his life

The idea of how everything and anything you do killing him, he's absolutely floored by the littlest of your touches, giggles and smiles, the idea of him trying to just breathe as naturally as he can when he's with you but by god he cannot breathe when it comes to you

The idea of him going from not liking physical affection and anyone in his personal space to craving you to be around, he cannot bear to part with you in the privacy of your home, to deny holding your hands is to deny the very oxygen he breaths, he needs you, he needs your touch, he needs the way your gentle fingertips brush against his rough ones, the way your fingers so perfectly intertwine with his, you are sculpted to be his and no one can tell him otherwise

The idea of him accepting his fate, just completely surrendering himself to you as you trace his battle scars and whisper sweet-nothings into his ears; how could someone's touch and voice be so therapeutic and healing? He is drawn to the warmth you radiate like a moth buzzing around the streetlight on a dark night- yes that's precisely what you are to him, the light of his dark cold life and it drives him insane but he's addicted to you and he cannot withdraw himself away

Never had he thought he would express what they called love. It was a foolish emotion to him, one that distracted him from the path he had chosen to take. He did not have the time to love and be loved when life had never granted him a reason to do so. Then you came around and he's swept off his feet, and the more he tried to deny it the stronger these feelings got. How did someone break the walls of his heart so easily, so swiftly? How could someone just enter his life and crumble the shield he had built for himself so painstakingly? What magic did you possess in your words that he had fallen spellbound too?

And now here he was, with you in his arms, safe and secure, taken in every bit of you like a parched traveller who had gotten the taste of cool fresh water after days of thirst. If this was love, if this was what those foolish scholars and everyday humans giggled around about then he was willing to name himself as a fool too; for he was your fool, and yours only.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ ©mm-lurking 2024 do not copy, steal or reuse my work.

[kikyoupdates]

Otherworldly Attraction ⭑˚🔮⭑ 𝑎 𝑠𝑢𝑑𝑑𝑒𝑛 𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟

yandere!jjk x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, isekai, jujutsu kaisen x fem!reader, slowburn, slowburn yandere

You don't know how or why, but you've been isekai'd into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Although your first instinct is to stay away from the plot, you've been blessed with an abnormal amount of cursed energy, and for better or worse, you find yourself sucked into the storyline. You decide that you may as well use your newfound powers for the greater good, and if you're lucky, you might succeed in rewriting some of the characters' fates. But it turns out that your presence in this world is an even bigger deal than you first thought, and soon, everyone wants to make you theirs.

previous | story masterlist | next

The door slides open to reveal two students, a girl and a boy, sitting around a table while they eat their lunches. Itadori steps inside, still grinning widely, and their heads turn at the sound of his voice.

“Hey, guys! I just dropped by for lunch, if that’s okay. Oh, and I brought a friend! This is [Name],” he happily introduces. 

You’re too stunned by the fact that he just referred to you as his friend to process much else, and by that point, the two students have already stood up. 

“It’s nice to meet you, [Name],” the girl greets with a smile. “I’m Sasaki, a second-year.” 

“And I’m Iguchi, also a second-year,” the boy chimes in. 

Needless to say, you already know who they are, too. Even though it was indirect on their part, they’re largely the reason why Itadori ends up at Jujutsu High, thanks to the fateful events of a certain night spent on school grounds. 

At this point in time, Itadori has yet to give them Sukuna’s finger. You’re not sure exactly when it’ll happen, but there will probably be some warning signs, like Fushiguro showing up on campus to look for it. 

Still, for obvious reasons, you feel like you shouldn’t get too involved with these two. The plot is going to proceed normally, as it should. You’re worried that something might go wrong with your interference. It’s probably best if you keep your distance, and—

“Would you like to join the Occult Research Club?!” 

“...” 

Yeah, you probably should’ve expected that. 

Itadori laughs. “Come on, guys. I didn’t bring her here to try and recruit her. I just wanted to introduce all three of you! I’m not sure if [Name]’s into that kind of stuff, anyways. It’s not really everyone’s thing.” 

“It’s true,” you nod. “I’m, uh, not that great with scary stuff…” 

“There’s nothing scary about the paranormal!” Sasaki insists. “It’s just interesting! Mysterious! Imagine what could be out there! Don’t you have a thirst for the unknown?” 

It’s precisely because I do know what’s out there that I’m scared…

“Sasaki, you’re coming on way too strong,” Iguchi chides. He turns to offer you a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. We just can’t help but get excited when new people show up to our club room, but we know this kind of thing can’t be forced. You two are more than welcome to stay here during lunch.”

To some extent, you can’t help but feel a bit bad, because you know how passionate they are, and soon, Itadori won’t be around to keep them company anymore. He has no choice but to go to Jujutsu High. It’s his fate as the protagonist of this world. 

You know you can’t possibly be a substitute for someone as irreplaceable as Itadori, but once all the craziness with Sukuna’s finger passes, you’d be happy to be their friend, if they’ll have you.

“Ooh, your lunch looks really good, [Name],” Itadori remarks once you sit down and unpack your bento box.

“Thanks,” you smile. “I’ve been cooking for a while. My mom cooks too, but I just got used to making food for myself. The process helps me take my mind off things. It’s kind of therapeutic, in a way.” 

Seeing as being sucked into a fictional world is kind of—or rather, really fucking insane, it’s safe to say that you cooked up a storm when you got home yesterday. You packed up most of the leftovers for lunch today, so the food didn’t go to waste, but still. You ended up emptying a good portion of the fridge.

Itadori takes a big bite out of his onigiri, but he keeps eyeing your lunch all the while, so you chuckle and push the bento box closer to him.

“Go ahead,” you encourage. “You can have some if you want.” 

“Can I really?” he blinks, a few pieces of rice stuck to his cheek. It’s kind of ridiculous how adorable this guy is. You have the sudden urge to pull him into your arms and give him a big squeeze, but mercifully, your intrusive thoughts don’t win. 

“Of course. I packed plenty, so I can afford to share.”

“Oh—wait, but earlier, I was saying that I’d be the one to treat you! I can’t just eat your lunch! I still owe you big-time for what I did to you!” 

Itadori firmly shakes his head in refusal, then crosses his arms and makes an attempt at what you can only assume is meant to be a stern expression. But again, he’s so ridiculously cute that it’s a bit hard to take him seriously. 

Sasaki arches a brow. “What did you do to her?” 

“I, uh, may have hit her in the face with a soccer ball,” Itadori replies, shamefully shrinking in on himself.

He is literally baby. 

“Why would you do that?” Iguchi gapes. “Come to think of it, her nose is a little bruised…” 

“It obviously wasn’t on purpose!” Itadori protests. He turns towards you with an imploring expression. “[Name], I promise it wasn’t on purpose. I swear I would never do something like that!” 

You chuckle softly. “I know you wouldn’t. You definitely don’t seem like that kind of guy.”

Itadori lets out a sigh of relief and resumes munching on his onigiri. Meanwhile, Sasaki stares at you from across the table. 

“So… [Name],” she says. “You’re a first-year like Itadori, I’m assuming?” 

“Yep.” 

“I’ve never really seen you around.” 

“I’m a new student. I only just transferred in.” 

She pauses for a few moments, and you can see her eyes glistening with excitement. “So, that must mean you haven’t joined any clubs yet, right?” 

“Sasaki, not this again,” Iguchi sighs. 

“I’m telling you! Not everyone is drawn to the occult right away. It takes trial and error to figure out if it’s something you’re actually interested in. I’m not saying she has to join our club or anything. But while she’s here, she should at least dip her toes in, right?” 

Before Iguchi can protest on your behalf again, Sasaki grabs a large board from one of the bookshelves and turns towards you with a mischievous grin. 

“...you’ve heard of Kokkuri, right?” 

After school, Itadori stops by your classroom. 

“Hey, [Name],” he beams. “Thanks for hanging out with all of us during lunch. It was a lot of fun. Hopefully that game of Kokkuri didn’t freak you out too much.”

“I had fun too,” you nod. Truthfully, you’ve never really been fazed by this kind of stuff. Horror movies and the like don’t often get much of a reaction out of you. You never bought into ghosts or vengeful spirits. Well, not in the real world at least.

Unfortunately, in this world, there’s plenty of freaky shit to go around. 

“It means a lot to those guys,” Itadori says, a tinge of sadness to his smile. “We’re the only people in the school that seem to have an interest in the occult. I signed up for it because I thought it’d be fun, but we just barely meet the three-member minimum. Thanks for going along with it to make them happy, even if it’s not really your kind of thing.” 

“There’s no need to thank me. I know I said I wasn’t crazy about scary stuff, but I actually ended up having a good time. I’m glad you invited me to hang out with you guys,” you smile. 

Itadori returns your smile with one of his own—seriously, he’s almost always smiling, but you certainly don’t mind—and before you realize it, a phone has been placed into your hand. 

You blink. “What’s this?” 

“My phone,” Itadori replies, still smiling.

“Um, I mean, I know that, but why’d you give it to me?” 

“So you can give me your number. That way it’ll be easier for us to stay in touch!” He pauses, just for a moment, to frown. “Oh, but I guess I should’ve asked if you were okay with it first. I got a little ahead of myself. Would it be cool if we exchanged numbers?” 

Abso-fucking-lutely! 

By some miracle, you manage to reign in your excitement, and instead of hardcore fangirling and squealing out at the top of your lungs, you just nod. 

“Sure thing,” you say, trying to play it cool. Still, despite your best efforts to act indifferent, your fingers are trembling as you pull out your own phone and refer to the number you have saved in a notes app (because you definitely haven’t memorized it within less than a day of being here). Once you’re finished inputting your number, you pass your phone over to Itadori so he can do the same.

And just like that, you have a new contact saved. Itadori Yuji. He even added a little smiley-face at the end of his name. God, he’s so fucking cute. 

“Sweet!” Itadori grins. “Thanks, [Name]. I’ll be sure to text you lots! Sorry I can’t really stick around much longer. I just wanted to stop by real quick before I left to go visit my gramps at the hospital.” 

Right. His grandfather. A point deep in your stomach throbs uncomfortably, and you’re hit by a sudden wave of guilt. It feels awful to know that his grandfather’s end is rapidly approaching. It feels awful to know that you can’t change it, or even warn him. All you can do is feign ignorance and hope that he enjoys these fleeting moments while they last. 

You muster up a smile. “I hope you have a nice day with your grandpa. Feel free to text me whenever.”

“Will do! See ya!” 

Itadori waves you off, every bit as cheerful as always. Yet another thing that causes you immense guilt is the knowledge that his happy days won’t last forever. Soon, he’ll be thrown into a dark, sinister world that teems with death. A world that, in your opinion, is far too harsh for such a gentle soul. 

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about that. Fate will run its course, and you must simply stand by and let it happen. 

Despite the nice day you had, your spirits are admittedly a bit low as you trudge home, having to consult Oogle Maps in order to find your way around. After being injured yesterday, the nurse called your parents to inform them of what had happened, and your mom came by to pick you up. This is technically your first time finding your way home by yourself. It’s not just a new school you need time getting used to, but a new home, a new city, a new world… all of it is bound to get a little overwhelming at times.

You wish you could say you’re completely aware of your surroundings, but that’s far from the truth. Every so often, you have to stop and squint towards the street signs to make sure you’re heading the right way. Jujutsu Kaisen is set in a fictional world, of course, but it’s a world modeled off the real world, and there’s plenty of similarities. This version of Japan is every bit as busy as the real one, for instance. Which is why you keep getting swept up in the crowds and losing your sense of direction.

Still, it’s not rocket science. You can mostly figure out where you’re going. Oogle Maps is idiot-proof, after all. Well, sort of. 

But the fact remains that you’ve never wandered these streets before, and naturally, you’re as disoriented as anyone would be in a foreign place. Hence why you don’t notice him until it’s late. 

A man with long, black hair, who’s staring right at you. 

You get jerked around by the crowd of people hurrying home during rush-hour, enough that you end up tripping onto the sidewalk and falling onto your knees. Your socks only reach up to your calves, so unfortunately, your knees get scraped open and start bleeding. 

Man. Only two days into this isekai thing, and you just can’t seem to stop getting hurt. 

“...are you alright?” 

Some guy is speaking to you. Presumably, one of the bystanders that saw you trip. Your cheeks flush, because falling in public is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen, but you instinctively reach out to grab his hand anyway. 

At the same time, your gaze pans upwards, and his eyes meet yours. 

Oh, balls. 

That’s the most appropriate response you can think of. After all, the man you’ve just had the misfortune of running into is hardly the type to be your friend. He’s not like Itadori. He’s not one of the good guys. 

He is Geto Suguru. Or rather, the curse user that’s pretending to be him. The real Geto is long dead. He was killed by his former best friend, Gojo. 

Those scars on his forehead tell you everything you need to know. The curse user’s name is Kenjaku, and he is merely using Geto’s body as a vessel. As things stand, you’re probably the only person who knows his true identity.

Regardless, the details don’t matter right now.

You’re just really fucking scared. 

Kenjaku pulls you to your feet, and unlike with Itadori, when you wished you could keep holding his hand forever, this time, you pull away viscerally fast, as if you’ve just been splashed with hot oil. 

Naturally, Kenjaku notices. 

“You didn’t answer my question, miss,” he chuckles, a cunning smile spreading across his lips. “I asked if you were alright. You took quite a tumble there. It must have hurt.” 

“I-I’m fine,” you reply, praying your fear isn’t absurdly obvious. You need to stay calm. There’s no reason why an ordinary person would be afraid of him, and if you let it show, he’ll know something’s up. 

“Your knees are bleeding,” Kenjaku points out. He leans closer to you, and you swear your heart nearly explodes. His dark, thin eyes are even more eerie from up close. “And you look like you just saw a ghost. I admit, I’m a bit worried.”

That’s bullshit if you’ve ever heard it, but nevertheless, you can’t allow your expression to crumble. There’s no reason for him to kill you out in public like this. Unlike cursed spirits, people can see him. He won’t risk drawing that kind of attention to himself. 

Probably. 

“I’m just… socially awkward,” you say, chuckling shyly for added effect. “And, uh, I’m not good at talking to handsome guys like you. I get nervous.” 

To be honest, what you just said isn’t even a total lie. Sadly. 

Kenjaku stares at you in silence for a few moments, then smiles yet again, his eyes crinkling at the corners. 

“I’m flattered by your words,” he muses. “Well, just be careful not to trip again. You got off with a small injury this time, but if you’re not careful, it could be a lot worse. And nobody likes to hurt, do they?” 

It’s hard to tell whether or not that was meant to be a thinly-veiled threat, but you have no intention of sticking around to find out. 

“Thank you for your help, mister. I appreciate it.” 

You hastily bow to him, then waste no time before speed-walking away. The further you get, the easier it is to breathe.

But since you’re too scared to look back over your shoulder, you don’t realize that Kenjaku is still staring at you with a contemplative look on his face. 

He hums to himself. “So much cursed energy. Is she a sorcerer? But something about her seems strange. I just can’t put my finger on it.” 

Well, no matter. He’ll leave you in peace for now. He can’t very well attack you in broad daylight, and he doesn’t even know if you pose a threat. There are far too many variables to consider. 

Besides, something tells him that this won’t be your last meeting. 

previous | story masterlist | next

More chapters are available on Quotev and Ao3!

⊱.⋅follow + post notifications on for story update announcements or join the author's discord!⋅.⊰

🔮 main masterlist! ♡ story masterlist

[dioslesbianwife]

Here are my headcannons for Jojo villain house and how I think they’d each approach chores

Dio

Refuses to do chores outright. He sees himself as above such menial labor and will either try to manipulate someone else into doing them or make excuses.

If he has to clean, expect a dramatic show of irritation. He’ll use The World to do everything inhumanly fast, pausing time and leaving the room spotless but making sure everyone knows how beneath him the task was.

Biggest offender: Leaving blood filled wine glasses around the house when he forgets about them.

Kars

Insists on having things done “the right way” and will redo someone’s work if it’s not up to his impossibly high standards.

Enjoys organizing. He might spend hours rearranging bookshelves, ensuring they’re sorted by theme, era, and importance to human evolution.

He delegates tasks to others but criticizes their technique endlessly.

Biggest offender: Lecturing everyone about how primitive humans are and how they’ve “desecrated” the art of maintaining a clean space.

Yoshikage Kira

The only one who genuinely enjoys chores- as long as it’s quiet. He finds cleaning therapeutic and uses it as an excuse to stay away from the others.

His favorite chore is folding laundry, particularly because it lets him admire the way hands move as they grab onto fabric, bend, and fold.. He folds everything with military precision.

He despises dirty dishes and will passive aggressively complain about anyone leaving them in the sink.

Biggest offender: The ungodly amount of nail clippings he produces.

Diavolo

Doesn’t do chores, period. He considers them a waste of time and relies on Doppio to handle everything. If questioned, he’ll walk away.

He gets visibly annoyed when the house isn’t clean but refuses to do anything about it himself. If someone confronts him, he’ll use King Crimson to skip the argument entirely.

Biggest offender: Leaving half empty coffee cups everywhere.

Doppio

He takes on messes left by Diavoll without complaint. He tries to stay cheerful, but even he gets overwhelmed when Diavolo’s mess becomes too much. Occasionally, he’ll mutter to himself about how unhelpful the others are.

Enjoys vacuuming because of its repetitive and calming nature, aslo it drowns out the chaos of the house.

Biggest offender: Picking up random items to make his phone calls and leaving them out of place.

Enrico Pucci

Insists on assigning everyone their tasks at the start of the week, using philosophical arguments to convince them that chores and daily routines are part of some higher plan.

He’s efficient but doesn’t tolerate laziness, constantly nagging the less helpful men to pull their weight.

Pucci has a habit of singing hymns while sweeping or mopping the floor, which unnerves everyone.

Biggest offender: Rearranging everyone’s personal belongings to organize the house according to “the Lord’s” standards.

Funny Valentine

Treats chores as a matter of patriotic pride. He gives long winded speeches about how a clean home reflects the strength of the household.

He has a habit of delegating tasks and overseeing them rather than just doing them himself. He’ll help if absolutely necessary but only with "important" jobs like cooking or maintaining the garden.

Obsessively cleans anything that might tarnish his image, like the front porch or living room. He makes sure guests (if they ever get any) think the house is always immaculate.

Biggest offender: He sometimes makes a mess intentionally to test others' "dedication to the cause."

Chore Dynamics in the House

Dio and Kars constantly fighting over who’s more above doing chores.

Pucci trying to convince Dio into participating, only for Dio to scoff and vanish dramatically.

Kira scolding Diavolo for leaving things dirty while Doppio tries to mediate.

Best team: Doppio and Kira. They’re the only ones who actually get things done without complaining.

Worst team: Dio and Diavolo. They’ll spend hours arguing about something and never lift a finger.

Pucci and Kira end up supervising everything like a pair of exasperated parents, while Valentine alternates between helping and giving motivational speeches no one asked for.

[market-insider]

Biomarkers in Personalized Medicine: A Comprehensive Market Study

The global personalized medicine biomarkers market size is expected to reach USD 43.07 billion by 2030. The growth is attributed to the rising awareness, importance of predicting prognosis, and selection of dose. Moreover, personalized medicine biomarkers serve as an essential tool for the selection of patients and providing the right treatment to the right patient further propelling the demand for personalized medicine biomarkers.

Gain deeper insights on the market and receive your free copy with TOC now @: Personalized Medicine Biomarkers Market Report

Biomarkers are unique analytes that can be utilized to improve diagnosis forecast treatment outcomes and direct treatment decisions. They are crucial to personalized medicine. The increased usage of biomarkers to enhance patient outcomes is popular in clinical trials, and its use in clinical practice is expanding quickly. The development of personalized medicines using biomarkers is expected to create effective and safe therapies for every patient. This is a major relief for patients at advanced stages of chronic diseases like cancer, which further drives the market growth. For instance, in August 2022, VENTANA MMR RxDx Panel, an FDA approved first IHC-based assay used for the identification of patients with advanced cancer that is Pembrolizumab treatment eligible.

Early detection/screening biomarkers predict the outcome of disease in patient population prior to therapy. It can also help enrich clinical trials by helping choose patients more likely to respond to treatment. For instance, Oncotype Dx is a diagnostic test developed by Genomic Health, Inc. This test examines 21 genes and helps predict the likelihood of reoccurrence of breast cancer in a patient after initial treatment. In April 2022, updated ASCO guidelines recommended the usage of the Oncotype DX test for breast cancer patients at early stages to guide treatment decisions.

Moreover, biomarkers are used for their predictive and prognostic utility that helps predict the occurrence of a health condition. For instance, the prostate-specific antigen is used to predict the survival of patients with prostate cancer. CRP is used to predict disease-free survival in breast cancer and as a risk factor in cardiovascular disorders. Serum LDH helps predict survival in case of metastatic brain tumors. Similarly, CA125 helps predict metastatic diseases in patients with uterine carcinoma.

Furthermore, key players operating in the personalized medicine biomarkers industry are focusing on expanding and launching products that can be used for a wide range of applications. For instance, in October 2021, Agilent Technologies Inc. received FDA approval for Agilent Ki-67 IHC MIB-1 pharmDx (Dako Omnis), for the identification of patients with a high risk of breast cancer recurrence.

[unsolved-duvall]

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐞.𝐦.

eddie munson x fem!reader

summary you're falling apart and no one can see it. apart from eddie, and he wants to do whatever he can to help you. but you're used to doing everything by yourself. (3.9k)

warnings mental health, anxiety, talks of depression, mentions of suicidal thoughts, brief talk of body image issues, crying, lots of emotions, fluff, brief kissing, this is kind of a heavy one so please bear that in mind <3

It was never pretty when you finally let all of your emotions out. It’s why you rarely let yourself feel them. 

But if you didn’t let yourself feel them you worried you would drown in them. They would take over your whole being and there wouldn’t be enough of you left for you to recognise when you looked in the mirror. 

Everyone always told you there was nothing wrong with you. That you weren’t broken like you insisted each time their monotone voices tried to snap you out of a bad episode. You almost wanted to be broken, you wanted there to be a reason you felt like this. Because if there wasn’t, and this was just how you were. Then you weren’t sure you could live like that. At least if there was something wrong with you, you could blame everything on that. You could blame the way you push people away on that. You could blame the way you self-sabotage on that. 

You could blame the way you find so much comfort in sadness on that. 

You had felt yourself slipping into that mirror-image version of yourself this whole week. The version of yourself that was there, but wasn’t really there. Your voice wasn’t your own. Every word you said felt like you were reading it off a teleprompter, saying precisely what everyone around you wanted to hear so they could convince themselves that you were alright. 

So you did just that. You smiled when you had to. Spoke only when you couldn’t avoid it. And no one noticed. 

Apart from one. 

Because Eddie always noticed. 

You hadn’t been together for very long. You certainly hadn’t been together long enough for Eddie to see you like this. But he knew nonetheless that something was wrong. 

It was why he had asked you to come round tonight. Wayne would be at work, as usual, and he wanted to spend the night with you. 

When Eddie had told you that, he quickly clarified through blushing cheeks and a peal of nervous laughter that he didn’t mean ‘spend the night with you’ in that way. He just wanted you there. 

So you said okay. Told him you would be there at seven. He smiled an almost sickly-sweet smile and pulled you in for a hug, too tight to be casual, and told you he’d see you then; his hand resting on your arm even after you had pulled away from the hug. 

You knew he knew. You knew he’d ask you about it. About why you were so… you didn’t know what you were. But it wasn’t you.  

.

.

.

It was a cold night. The bitter air bit at your face and tried to fight its way through the layers you were wearing. The sharp pain that shot through your hands at the coldness was almost therapeutic. It distracted you for just a second and was enough to make your mind go quiet. Which was something you had never been able to do. 

You knocked on the trailer door and took a step back, waiting for Eddie to open it. But instead, you heard his voice ring out from inside, telling you to come in. You were sure the whole trailer park must have heard him. The boy did not have a quiet bone in his body. 

Pushing the door open you were met with a comforting warmth and the yellow light from the lamps dotted around the trailer lit up your face. You dropped your bag to the floor and pulled your sleeves down, tucking your hands away in them, letting the heat sink deep into your bones. 

Eddie appeared a few seconds later, popping his head up from where he was knelt down behind a kitchen counter. 

“Angel!” 

He always called you that. And even so, it still made your heart swell whenever he called out to you. 

“Hey Eddie,” your voice came out much quieter than you intended it to. You were trying to put on a brave face, or whatever the fuck your counsellor had called it. Apparently, you had a bad habit of pretending you were okay when you weren’t. You didn’t need a professional to tell you that, but sure. Thanks. 

Eddie’s face dropped slightly, his smile fading for a second before he composed himself. His face lit back up if only slightly more forced than before, and stood up. 

“I uh- I was trying to find your popcorn. You know the one with the chocolate and stuff mixed in?”

You nodded, taking a seat on one of the chairs that hadn’t been pushed back under the table, pulling a leg up to rest your chin on your knee. 

“Yeah but I can’t- I can’t find it,” Eddie’s brows scrunched up in confusion and he spun round a couple of times, his eyes darting across the kitchen. 

You couldn’t help the smile that tried to tug at your lips. He looked like a lost child. But you loved him anyway. 

Not that you had told him you loved him yet. It seemed too soon and, if you were being honest, the idea of telling anyone, even Eddie, that you loved them scared the shit out of you. 

So instead of saying “you’re an idiot you know that? I love you though.” 

You said, “I think I finished it last time I was here.”

Eddie stopped abruptly, his hair flying around him as he halted his movements and flicked his eyes over to meet yours. 

“You did?” He sounded genuinely upset, you weren’t sure why, it was just popcorn. 

“I think so,” You watched as Eddie leaned against the counter, and you switched your legs around, dropping the right one to the floor and resting your chin on your left knee instead.

“Remember last Tuesday? It was storming outside so we stayed in and watched all those films. I ate it then.”

“Oh- I don’t remember you eating it?”

“Yeah, that’s because you fell asleep ten minutes after you lay down next to me” 

“You were playing with my hair! It is completely on you that I fell asleep” Eddie laughed between words, and you wished you could laugh too. But you couldn’t. 

Eddie picked up on whatever it was you were feeling and his laughter died down as he cleared his throat, a not-so-subtle tell that he felt unsure of what he was meant to say or do. 

You hated that it was you who made him feel like that. You hated that you were such a burden to everyone around you; you hated the way you could make even the happiest people feel sad, just by being in the same room as you. It was like you were draining to be around. 

“I’m gonna go and uh- go and get changed if that’s okay?” You stood up and waited for Eddie to respond, he seemed to be distracted now, his eyes almost looking through you rather than at you. 

“Oh yeah- yeah, of course, sweetheart. I’ll order a pizza for us, yeah?” 

“That sounds good, Eds” 

Eddie smiled at you. It was a painful smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. As you walked past him he reached a hand out and let it rest on your back until you were too far away. 

You made your way to his room and heard him shuffle around behind you. You should say something, right? Tell him you were okay. Reassure him? 

You wanted to. You were going to. But then your hand was on the door handle and you had walked into Eddie’s room without saying anything to him. It was like you were fighting a constant battle with your own mind. You knew what you wanted to say and do, but you still couldn’t manage it.   

Eddie made sure you knew very quickly into the relationship that you were welcome to wear any of his clothes. In fact, he encouraged it. So, instead of bringing pyjamas with you, you had made the executive decision to wear Eddie’s clothes tonight. 

You flicked on the lamp in his room and knelt down by the dresser, pulling out some of his clothes.

You settled on an old-band tee (if you were being honest, you didn’t recognise the band. You were getting better at knowing Eddie’s music, but you were still learning. And Eddie was more than happy to tell you everything about them). 

You threw on the already oversized tee and pulled on a pair of his clean boxers over your underwear to wear as shorts. 

You already felt safer. His clothes smelt like him. They wrapped you up in a warm hug and told you everything would be fine. You just wished you could believe it.

You turned on your heel and noticed something you had somehow not seen when you walked into his room. His bed. It was made up with fresh sheets on it and smelt like… flowers? Almost as if someone had sprayed perfume on the bed. 

And there was a toothbrush and toothpaste lying on the pillow, as well as an eye mask. You walked over to it and ran your fingers over the pillow. Fuck. 

You didn’t realise you were crying until your vision went blurry. Your head started spinning and in a moment of upset, you sank to the floor, sitting with your back resting against the wall and you let the tears fall.

Before you could wipe them away you heard the bedroom door open, you spun round and saw Eddie standing there, his eyes flicking between you and the bed. His face filled with dread and you could physically see the internal battle he was having with himself over what he should say or do first. 

“Baby- baby, hey don’t cry. It’s okay”

You hid behind your hands. It was a childish move, but it made you feel safe. You didn’t want him to see you like this. You heard him moving around, his footsteps carried across the room as he made his way over to the bed, sitting down on it, giving you as much space as you needed. 

“Sweet- hey, I didn’t do it for that.” 

Huh? 

“I- I told Wayne you were coming to stay for the night and he told me I should make sure you were comfortable here. He took me out to buy you some toiletries and fresh sheets for the bed because apparently mine are too old and even he doesn’t trust them, which I think is rude to be honest- but anyway, that’s- that’s what all this is.” 

Eddie took a much-needed breath before he picked up the eye mask and twirled it around in his hands. 

“It’s all for you so it’s like being at home. You have one of these, right?” You didn’t answer, still crying and not even looking at him. 

“I can sleep on the couch, I was going to! There are blankets and pillows out there for me. I don’t want you to feel like you staying the night meant- fuck. I just wanted it to be nice, I’m so sorry” 

Oh.

Oh, you loved him more than you could ever tell him. 

“It’s okay” Your voice was small but you needed him to know that was not why you were crying. At all. In fact, that idea hadn’t even crossed your mind. Eddie had made sure you knew there was absolutely no rush, no pressure, to do anything that you didn’t feel comfortable with. 

“I wasn’t- I’m sorry I wasn’t crying because of that,” You still weren’t looking at him, but you had dropped your hand from your face. You now stared at the floor, anywhere but looking at him. 

“Well- oh. But, baby? Why were you crying then? Are you… does something hurt? Do you need me to get you something?” Eddie’s soft voice hit every nerve in you and brought the tears back to your eyes. You let them fall down your cheeks freely; there was no point in hiding them anymore. He had already seen what a mess you were. 

“It’s nothing. I’m fine” 

Fine. 

You didn’t believe it, and evidently, neither did Eddie because he said your full name and that grabbed your attention. Because he never did that. 

“You need to talk to me.” His voice had changed. It was still soft but there was something lining it that made you feel like you had disappointed him. 

Of course, you could never disappoint him. But he was worried as hell about you. He had barely slept last night because of you. He had picked up on your change in demeanour for a few days now, but he wanted to give you space. But he couldn’t do that anymore. 

“You need to talk to me because you’re scaring me.” 

You were scaring him? 

“Eddie I-” 

“I have tried. I have tried to give you space but- baby, I don’t know what to do anymore. I thought you would come to me, talk to me. But you haven’t and I can’t just sit back and pretend I don’t see you slowly killing yourself.” 

You had one hand picking at a loose carpet thread and the other one resting on your knee, digging your nails in until you knew you had have crescent-shaped scars there tomorrow. 

“I’m sorry.” It was all you could say. All you could force yourself to say. 

For a beat, Eddie didn’t say anything, and you worried you had annoyed him. You were ready for him to get up and walk out. 

But he didn’t- 

“Come here,” He moved back on the bed, leaning against the wall to give you space to sit however you wanted. 

You thought about staying where you were. But something inside you had you moving to sit next to him before you could think about it for very long. You climbed onto the bed and sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder. You didn’t look at him, and you didn’t move when he tried to pull you against him. 

You didn’t know why you wouldn’t let him love you. 

“Talk to me, baby.” His voice was as quiet as yours had once been. 

“I don’t know what to say.” 

“Say whatever you need to say.” 

“I-” 

Fuck why was this so hard. You should be able to talk to him, if there was anyone in the world you could talk to, it was him. And yet, here you were. 

“I just want to feel okay again.” 

“Oh, sweetheart.” You had just pulled his heart out and broken it in two. He had never heard you speak like this. He had never heard you speak and have your voice break from the raw pain you were feeling. He wanted, no needed, to make you feel safe. 

“I’m so sorry. What can I- what can I do? Tell me, please.” He was all but down on his knees begging you to tell him how he could help you. 

“I don’t know. I don’t know Eddie because if I knew I wouldn’t feel like this, would I?”

Shit. You didn’t mean to say that. You don’t even know where that came from. 

“I’m sor-”

“Don’t apologize. It’s good, this is good,” Eddie placed a hesitant hand on your leg, and when you didn’t flinch away he let it rest there. An anchor to keep you here with him. A gentle reminder that you weren’t alone. No matter how alone you felt. “Showing emotion is good, sweetheart. No matter what it is.” 

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I don’t know why I did that.” 

“Maybe because you feel scared. Maybe you don’t know how you feel right now and that’s really scary, to not understand our own emotions.” 

God, if anyone ever called him dumb again you were going to dropkick them because he may just be the smartest person you have ever met. 

You leant into him a bit more, your head resting above his shoulder. It felt good to be close to him. He made you feel okay again. 

“I just feel- I just feel so… numb. I know I’m not okay. But I don’t know why, I don’t know why I feel this way but I do. I feel this weight in my chest and it-” your voice broke as you started to cry again, but you pushed through, because it was Eddie. 

“It feels like I can’t breathe. Because I wake up and I don’t even get one second of calm before the anxiety hits and my heart is racing and I have these horrible thoughts. And I feel like that all the time. I overthink everything and I convince myself that everyone hates me and- it’s so tiring. I hate myself. I hate what I look like like, I hate my own brain, I just hate myself. I feel so uncomftorable in my own body. And I’m not important, I’m not interesting, I’m not…anything. I feel like everyone else is okay and I am just drowning every second of every day and I have to pretend I’m okay because there are people who have it way, way worse. And every day I wake up and I wish-” You cut yourself off abruptly. 

“You wish what, sweets?” Eddie asked you, his hand on your leg now rubbing soothing circles into it. 

“I wish I didn’t have to wake up.” 

In a split second Eddie had pulled you into him and had his arms wrapped so tightly around you that you weren’t sure where he ended and you began. You buried your head inbetween his neck and his shoulder and let yourself need him. 

You let yourself need someone else for the first time. You clinged to him like a lifeline and let him breathe life back into you. Your hands went under his t-shirt and you let them run up and down his back. Eddie was holding onto you too tightly to even move a limb. You heard his little shh shh shh’s and I’ve got you’s before you noticed you were crying. 

And the you let yourself feel everything you had pushed so far down you almost forgot how much it hurt. 

“It’s so hard. Everything is so hard and I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I’m strong enough.” Eddie had to fight to hear your words through the gut-wrenching sobs you were finally letting out. But he did listen. He would listen for the rest of his life if you needed him to. 

So that’s what he did. He listened to you. You told him everything, you told him everything you were feeling and he sat and he took in every word. It was hard, for both of you, but it was desperately needed. Because it wasn’t until you truly spoke the words out loud for the first time that you realised how close to the edge you had been. 

Eventually you ended up curled into Eddie’s side. Your legs were tangled together and you had your arms wrapped around him. One hand slid under his t-shirt to rest on his chest, it grounded you somehow, to feel him. He kept a tight hold on you the entire time, his calming hands rubbing up and down your arms and his lips pressing delicate kisses on the top of your head every few minutes. 

Whenever he could hear you getting emotional again he would cut in with some comforting words, “You’re okay, I’ve got you” and  “I’m so proud of you, baby”. 

Eventually your words died out and you lay in slience for a few minutes until Eddie said “Can I say something?” 

You nodded against his chest and he gently tapped on your arms before pulling you up to look at him. 

“You are the most incredible person I have ever met. Every day you just amaze me. The way you talk- shit, the way you talk about the things you love? Oh my god, I could listen to you talk about your interests for hours. Because you get this little gleam in your eye and you do thing where you don’t even finish your first thought before you’re moving onto the next thing.” You watched him talk, you let him talk instead of cutting him off and insisting he was wrong. 

“Baby you are so fucking strong. You just keep fighting and I don’t know how you do it. Because you do it on your own, and it kills me to watch. It kills me to watch you close yourslef off from everyone else and fight on your own. I just- I just want to be there for you. I want you to come to me when you need help, and I know you won’t do that just yet- maybe not ever. Because you’re not used to having that, but that’s okay because I will wait for you, i will always be here ready to catch you or fall with you or sit and cry with you, if that’s what you need.” 

You were crying again and Eddie lifted a hand to wipe away the tears that were staining your flushed cheeks. 

“And you’re so beautiful it kills me that you don’t see that. There is not one goddamn thing I would change about you. Nothing. I swear on my life, fuck I swear on Wayne’s life, I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Everything about you makes me feel week in the knees baby I swear.” Eddie’s saccharine sweet voice found it’s home in you and calmed something inside you that you thought could never be calmed. 

“I love you.” It was all you could say. Those were the only three words you could muster that encapsulated how you felt right now. And it scared you to death to say them, but you figured that if loving someone scared you that meant it was the real thing. 

Without missing a beat Eddie said, “I love you too.” 

He pulled you to him and kissed you. It was gentle, sweet. You breathed him in and let his lips say everything else you weren’t ready to hear yet. You kissed until you had to pull away reluctantly to breathe. 

Eddie rest his forehead against yours and you both closed your eyes for a second, simply being with each other was enough. 

Until- “Wait, didn’t you order a pizza?” 

“No. I knew something was going on with you and I couldn’t do anything until I knew you were okay.” 

“Oh.” 

“Oh I’m sorry did you want a pizza?” Eddie’s voice was laced with sarcasm as he pulled away from you to stare at you. It made you laugh. 

“No, I just want you.” You told him, pushing him down flat agains the bed and moving to rest your head on his chest. Eddie let you move him, he let you lie curled into the side of him, half on top of him, before he pulled a blanket over both of you. 

“Can you stay in here tonight. I don’t want you to sleep on the couch.” Your voice was muffled by the way you buried your head against his chest, but he still heard you. 

“Yeah angel, I’m not going anywhere.” 

That’s how you fell asleep that night, with Eddie’s arms wrapped around you and so close to him that there wasn’t even room left for air to get between the two of you. You slept so deeply that night that you knew you didn’t ever want to sleep without Eddie again. 

Which was good. Because Eddie wasn’t planning on letting you go anytime soon.

.

.

.

authors note i wrote this last week during a very difficult time. this is very self-indulgent. the writing is not good, i wrote this with no outline, no plot, nothing. i know this is not my best work at all but i still wanted to post it. you've been warned <3

taglist @joeschains

(tumblr please don't delete the last line of this babe i love you)