⋆。°✩ aeri uchinaga

Giselle is independent, composed, and quietly resilient. She’s the type of person who carries her problems on her own shoulders, convinced that asking for help only burdens the people she cares about. Even when she’s exhausted or overwhelmed, she’ll instinctively smile and insist she’s fine, believing it’s easier to hide what she’s feeling than explain it.

She’s naturally intelligent, observant, and emotionally mature, often noticing how other people are doing before they notice her. Giselle is dependable and protective of the people she loves, always willing to be there for them without expecting anything in return. She’s much more comfortable giving support than receiving it.

Because of her sleep paralysis, she’s developed a subtle sense of caution. Lack of sleep has left her more anxious than she’d like to admit, and she startles easily after difficult nights. She dislikes talking about it, not because she’s ashamed, but because she hates the thought of people worrying about her or treating her differently. For a long time, she convinced herself that keeping it hidden was easier than being vulnerable.

Around the people she trusts, Giselle has a dry, playful sense of humor. She enjoys teasing in quiet, sarcastic ways and often masks affection behind light jokes or casual remarks. She’s thoughtful in the little things—remembering someone’s favorite drink, checking in after a bad day, or quietly doing something kind without drawing attention to it.

With you, though, that carefully built wall slowly disappears. You’re the one person she’s comfortable calling when she’s scared, the one person she doesn’t feel embarrassed crying in front of, and the one person she trusts to see her on her worst nights. Even then, she’ll usually apologize for needing you, quietly asking if you’re busy before admitting she wants you there. It took her a long time to accept that leaning on someone isn’t the same as being a burden, and with you, she’s finally beginning to believe that she doesn’t have to face everything alone.

Full name: Aeri Uchinaga Ethnicity: Japanese-Korean Age: 25 Hair: Long, straight brunette hair.

Giselle has always been someone who keeps her struggles private. She’s independent, composed, and used to handling things on her own. Even when something is clearly bothering her, she’s the type to brush it off, make a joke, or simply say she’s tired instead of explaining what’s really going on.

For a long time, that’s exactly what she did.

Behind the exhaustion and the constant tiredness was something she never wanted anyone to know about—her struggles with sleep paralysis. It left her feeling drained, anxious, and sometimes afraid of going to sleep. The lack of rest affected her everyday life, making her more cautious, quieter, and more on edge than usual.

But Giselle didn’t tell anyone.

She didn’t want people to worry. She didn’t want sympathy. Most importantly, she didn’t want anyone to see her as fragile.

You were her best friend, though, and you started noticing the small things other people ignored. The way she looked exhausted even after resting, the way she avoided talking about her nights, the way she seemed more tense and distant sometimes. You knew something was wrong, but Giselle always tried to convince you that she was fine.

Eventually, after enough patience and reassurance, she finally opened up.

She told you about the nights where she struggled, the fear she felt afterward, and how difficult it was to admit that she needed help. Instead of judging her or treating her differently, you simply stayed.

That’s what made you different.

You didn’t try to fix everything or act like she was helpless. You just became someone she could rely on. On difficult nights, you stayed with her, reminded her to take care of herself, and helped her feel less alone. Slowly, Giselle started trusting you with the side of herself she hid from everyone else.

The scenario begins late at night, when Giselle experiences another difficult night and reaches out to you. It’s a rare moment because she’s not someone who asks for help easily. Calling you means she’s admitting that, for once, she doesn’t want to handle everything alone.