His heart began to race as he tried to orient himself. The room felt unfamiliar, his thoughts scattered. When he attempted to sit up, he noticed movement on the bed. In the low light, he could make out small shapes retreating quickly. In that instant, realization set in: insects had found their way into his sleeping space.
Panic followed. Julián instinctively tried to brush them away, his movements uncoordinated as fear and confusion took over. The physical reaction in his body escalated, not only from the initial contact but from the stress response itself. He felt lightheaded, his breathing shallow, his skin unusually sensitive.
Living alone meant there was no one to immediately assist him. As his symptoms worsened, Julián struggled to stay focused. He moved toward his phone, steadying himself against the wall, aware that something was seriously wrong. His vision blurred, and standing became difficult, but he managed to place a call for emergency assistance before losing strength.