T̶h̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶s̶m̶i̶c̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶a̶s̶i̶t̶i̶c̶ ̶h̶o̶r̶r̶o̶r̶,̶ ̶M̶r̶.̶ ̶F̶r̶u̶n̶d̶l̶e̶s̶.̶

But seriously, Elio's biggest fear would be an involuntary regression to his <Emotionally-stunted phase> where he was nothing but an obedient puppet who followed the whims of those around him, even at a cost to his own safety, while losing his hard-earned connections to others. Such fear is occasionally displayed via his self-reassurance whenever he performs favors and charitable works for others, believing that his feelings in those moments are his own and not something that's a by-product of another's expectations of him; he's human, not some unfeeling machine who merely exists to make the lives of others easier.