Deep fear part one

Amber paced back and forth inside her small apartment, her mind racing. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over her since the events of the day. Every sound seemed to startle her now, every little thing seemed to make her heart race. She felt like she was crawling out of her skin, as if she couldn't get away from the feeling of dread that had taken hold of her.

She tried to distract herself with menial tasks like cleaning and organizing, but her mind wouldn't focus. Every time she tried to do something, her thoughts would immediately return to the memories of the day, as vivid and unsettling as if they had just happened. It was like a never-ending loop of fear and anxiety, playing over and over in her head.

She picked up her phone again, scrolling absently through her social media feed. But the normally mindless scrolling couldn't keep her mind occupied for long. She put the phone down and tried to take deep breaths, trying to calm herself. But even that was difficult to do, her heart seemed to be perpetually racing, her palms covered in cold sweat.

Amber had tossed and turned in her bed all night, her mind refusing to shut off and allow her to sleep. The morning sun filtered in through her curtains, casting a dim light over her bedroom, but she felt anything but refreshed. Her eyes felt heavy and gritty, her body tired from the lack of rest. As she sat up in bed, she felt a wave of despair wash over her. Another sleepless night, another day of anxiousness and fear.

She sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands, trying to gather her thoughts. But they were a chaotic jumble, racing through her mind like a whirlpool, making it impossible to make sense of anything. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart, but the anxious feeling in her stomach wouldn't subside. It was as if the fear had taken root in her gut, and would not leave no matter what she did.

At exactly 9:00, Amber's phone rang, the sound shrill and jarring in the silent apartment. She jumped at the unexpected noise, her heart rate quickening. She picked up her phone and saw that it was Maya calling. As she answered, she heard her friend's voice on the other end, telling her that she was waiting outside.

Amber replied to Maya's call, her voice a little shaky. "Come up," she said, her voice faint but determined. "I live on the third floor." She hung up the phone and quickly made her way to the front door, her steps heavy as if she was walking with weights tied to her feet. Every nerve in her body was on edge, and she had to force herself to breathe slowly, to keep her heart rate in check.

As she buzzed Maya in and waited for her to come up, she found herself pacing back and forth in the living room, her thoughts racing. She wondered what would happen when her friend arrived. Would she be able to help her, or would she make things worse? All she knew was that she needed someone to talk to, someone who could help her make sense of the thoughts that were consuming her. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself, knowing that she needed to try to act normal, or at least as normal as she could manage in her current state.

A few moments later, there was a knock on the door. Amber took a deep breath and tried to compose herself before going to open it. She could hear Maya's voice coming from the other side, but her own heart was beating so loudly in her ears that she couldn't tell what her friend was saying. She unlocked the door and opened it slowly, her eyes meeting Maya's concerned gaze.

Maya took one look at Amber's face and knew immediately that something was wrong. Her friend's eyes were wide and haunted, her face pale and drawn. "Amber," she said softly, stepping forward. "Are you okay?"

Amber tried to smile, to pretend that everything was normal. But the effort was wasted, and she knew that she looked as shaky as she felt. "I'm fine," she said, her voice trembling a little. "Just...tired, that's all."

As she spoke, Amber suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, her vision blurring momentarily. She clutched the door frame to keep her balance, her knees feeling weak. The room spun around her as she tried to keep her bearings, her heart racing. She felt as if she was on the verge of fainting, her whole body trembling with fatigue.

Maya saw her friend stumble and quickly stepped forward, grabbing her arm to steady her. "Amber!" she said sharply. "Sit down, you look like you're about to pass out." She helped Amber walk over to the couch and gently sat her down, taking a seat beside her.

Amber leaned back against the couch, her breath coming in short gasps. "Sorry," she gasped. "I don't know what's wrong with me. I...I must not have slept very well last night." She tried to take deep breaths, but her heart was still racing, her head spinning. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, feeling like she was going to be sick.

Maya looked at her friend with concern, her brows furrowed. "Are you sure that's all?" she asked.

"You look like you're about to faint." She placed a hand on Amber's forehead, feeling her temperature. "And you feel clammy. Are you sure you're not coming down with something?"

Amber shook her head weakly, her eyes still closed. "I don't think so," she said. "I just feel...dizzy, that's all. I'm sure it'll pass." But as she spoke, she felt another wave of nausea wash over her, her stomach churning. She felt like she might throw up at any moment, her head spinning with vertigo.

Maya wasn't convinced. She'd never seen her friend like this before, and she was worried. "You don't just feel dizzy for no reason," she said. "Have you eaten anything today?"