Darkness

I was in English class when it started. Something that I hadn't felt in a long time. Something that I thought wouldn't have happened in the morning. Something that should not be happening at school.

A spike of pain shot through my left hand. Then another. And another. The frequencies shortened from a few minutes to every other second. Please, not here, not now.

My hand started to cramp up. I couldn't let anyone know. I needed to get away. I bit my tongue and raised my right hand.

"Yes, Rey?" Present Mic called on me.

"May I use the restroom, sensei?" I asked. I felt a drop of sweat roll down my neck.

"Go ahead."

After getting permission, I left the room as quickly as I could. Once outside the classroom, my left hand started shaking uncontrollably. The pain came in waves. My vision blurred. I grasped the wall with my right hand. I was panting. Sweat dropped from my forehead. Drip.

I stumbled along the hallway toward the restroom. I reached for the door, but my legs gave out underneath me. I collapsed onto the floor. I was gasping for air. Drip. Drip.

I felt so cold. My fingers, my feet, my heart. Everything was so cold. Drip.

I pressed my back against the restroom door, desperate for air. I can't breathe! I need to breathe! I need air! Please!

I clawed at my throat, desperate for air. I'm drowning. It's all darkness around me. Everything around me is dark. I can't see. Am I going blind?

Drip. Drip. Drip.

No, wait, I see something.

It's red.

It's-

It's blood.

These are...

These are my hands. They're covered in blood.

Where is everyone? My sister? Where is she?

I'm all alone.

No one wants me.

I feel so lonely.

"Rey!" Aizawa shook the boy by the shoulders. The boy was shivering. His eyes were cloudy. "Rey!"

It's warm.

So warm.

Who is it?

Who's helping me?

Aizawa saw that the boy wasn't giving any reaction. He was going to get Recovery Girl.

It's gone.

Where did it go?

Wait!

No!

Don't leave!

"Don't leave me!" Rey shouted, grasping onto Aizawa's hand. "Don't leave, please."

Rey's eyes were desperate. His breaths came in rapid and quick. His hands were ice cold.

Aizawa kneeled down next to him. "I'm here. Don't worry."

I was holding onto something warm. It was an anchor. An anchor in the darkness. I felt safe.

A hand. I was holding someone's hand. I held onto the hand for a long time. I felt my breathing slow. The darkness receded away to the farthest corners. I could see. I blinked my eyes at the light. A pair of onyx eyes came into my view.

"Aizawa sensei?" I breathed out. My voice came out hoarse and cracked.

"Are you alright, Rey?" Mr. Aizawa asked gently.

I immediately remembered where I was and who I was talking to. I let go of Mr. Aizawa's hand and composed myself before answering his question. "Yes, I'm alright now. I'm sorry for making you worry."

"You don't need to apologize." Mr. Aizawa replied. "The floor is cold. You shouldn't be sitting on the floor. Can you stand?"

I nodded.

"Let's get you to the Nurse's Office." Mr. Aizawa said.

Aizawa handed Rey a piece of chocolate candy. The boy thanked him and put the candy in his mouth. Rey was sitting on a vacant bed in the Nurse's Office. Aizawa had asked Recovery Girl to perform a check up on Rey. She said that Rey had suffered from a panic attack. She let Rey rest for the remainder of the class period and told Aizawa that he could go back after class ended.

Aizawa let the boy enjoy his candy before asking his question. "What happened back then?"

Rey moved the candy around in his mouth. "A relapse of old injuries. It happens every now and then."

"Has it always been so serious?" Aizawa continued. "It wasn't just a small panic attack."

Rey thought about the question. "It usually happens at night when I'm sleeping, so I don't really know. I would wake up from a nightmare, and that would be it."

"Have you told anyone about your episodes?" Aizawa asked.

"I never really had anyone I could turn to to talk about these things, so I guess not." Rey shook his head.

"Then, why didn't you tell the school about it?" Aizawa asked again. "You can talk to me about these things. I am your teacher. It's my duty to care for your health."

Rey didn't answer Aizawa's question.

"Rey. Answer me."

Aizawa sighed. "You need to understand that you don't need to keep everything to yourself. We are willing to help. Promise me, Rey."

The boy looked at his hands quietly.

"Rey, talk to me."

The candy in Rey's mouth cracked in half. He sprang up from the bed and glared fiercely at Aizawa. "Why should I tell you? How do I know if you're not like everyone else who promised to help but turned their backs and walked away when I needed them the most?"

Aizawa was taken back by the boy's outburst. He didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry, sensei." Rey whispered. He ran out of the office. "I'm going to go to class now."

Aizawa watched the boy leave. His hand clenched into a fist. He felt a bubbling hatred to those who betrayed the boy in the past. He promised that he would never become one of them.