Chapter 6: linked attack

I flung my eyes wide open as I looked around. I was sure I sensed someone, but I couldn't find anyone. It felt as though someone kept staring at me the whole night, but I couldn't seem to place my finger around it. I sat up from my bed and breathed out sharply. The feeling of weariness clouded my emotions as I repeatedly kept looking to and fro. From the door to the bathroom, down to my window, to get a clue that someone was there.

When I was more stable, I stood from my bed and headed for the bathroom to answer nature's call. Something still lingered in my heart. It troubled me and that was strange, judging from the fact that I didn't even know what it was. Just a strong feeling of discomfort, coursing through my body. I walked over to the sink and splashed some cold water on my face to cool my nerve, but that only made things worse for me.

All of a sudden it felt like I couldn't breathe. At first, I thought it was a result of the discomfort I felt, but it got worse. I gasped for breaths continuously. Immediately I stormed out of the bathroom, and over to my room. It didn't stop. I fell to the floor, holding my chest at the same time, trying my best to calm myself, but it wasn't working.

"Mum" I tried to call out, but it all came out as a whisper. I struggled to crawl to the door, but it was almost impossible because the only thing I could think about was the fact that I. Was having a panic attack and might die if nothing was done about it.

It had never happened before which made it both surprising and frightening to me. I tried my best to steady myself and breathe, but I couldn't. The tightness in my chest was getting worse. 'I was going to die. This was the end. The voice in my head kept echoing.

Just when I was on the verge of losing myself, it all stopped. The tightness in my chest seized and I could breathe properly again. I did some breathing exercises to ensure I was more stable before I got up.

My bedroom suddenly became a nightmare to me as I barged out of it. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of drink. That was something I most definitely needed after my little fight for a spot in life.

"Are you okay?" a voice startled me from behind. It was Clara. I turned around and flashed her a quick smile whilst she walked towards me with the bottled water she grabbed from the fridge.

"Yeah, I am" I assured her. " Why did you ask?" I shrugged at her

"I heard something coming from your room so I got curious"

"This isn't my room"

"I know, I came to grab water" she wiggled the plastic in my face and I scoffed.

"You heard something from my room and didn't bother checking up on me?"

"I was going to. I needed water first"

"Water was more important than me?"

"Don't make it seem like I am the bad person"

"Clara what if something had happened to me before you got back with your silly damn water?"

"Well, nothing did" she half yelled. "Don't make such a big deal out of it"

"Yeah right," I stormed out of the kitchen as angry as ever.

Maybe I was overreacting, but I didn't care. The panic attack was the most frightening thing I had ever experienced. It was something I couldn't explain.

*******************

The next day I had no excuse for not going to school. I was super tired, judging from the fact that I didn't have any sleep throughout last night. That was something that happened when you experience something you most definitely haven't experienced before. I yawned tiredly at the same time rubbing the back of my eyes as I dragged my feet to the bathroom to get ready.

When I got out, I was much more alert, but still felt a little bit tired. I stretched my hands and grabbed any clothes they could reach. That happened to be pair of oversized jeans and a top. I didn't mind. I threw them on and wore my hair into a bun. The last thing I wanted to do was; do make up after the awful event yesterday.

I grabbed my backpack and off I went. I didn't want to have breakfast. It wasn't a result of me not being hungry. I just didn't feel like taking anything.

**********

"And you weren't in school yesterday," Chloe said immediately after she had gotten to where I stood.

"Something came up"

"I would look for something to prevent me from coming to school too," she said and we both chuckled.

"Did you hear?"

"About what?"

"Andrew," she said and immediately my face dropped.

"What about him?" I tried to act pissed off, but it wasn't working. That was the last thing I felt when I heard his name.

"He had a panic attack yesterday. It was quite serious that he was rushed to the hospital" she blurted out and my eyes widened in shock.

"What?... Wait how did you hear about this"

"He was supposed to audition for the school play today, but we heard this news instead"

"What play?"

"Oh yeah, it was announced yesterday. It's going to be...."

"Is he okay?" I panicked.

"Uhm I guess so" she replied with puzzlement as a result of how I snapped. "I heard he is at the hospital now"

"where did you hear all of this?"

"I have my sources" she smirked at me at the same time giving me a shrug.

What was happening? I had a panic attack and so did he. Something wasn't right. I remembered how it happened and I was sure I wasn't dreaming. What was going on? First I had no memory of me attending a party earlier. Now I have a linked panic attack.