Everglow

Chapter Six: All These Tears

*Topics of Anxiety attacks and bullying*

Rowan's POV

Here I was, sat in the school nurse's office hugging my brother, Finn, to death. It's rare for me to show such raw emotions to people, especially my family. So I felt almost embarrassed to pull away and face my brother again after that mini breakdown I just had.

My tears had eased up but the heavy feeling in my chest was lingering and my mind was still overflowing with anxious thoughts; I've always been a pretty anxious person, mostly in social settings, but I always know how to hide it and cover it with a shy or quiet quality. But suffering from an anxiety attack? This is completely new to me.

I felt Finn's arms loosen from around me. "I think it's time we get you home, huh?"

I pulled back a little, avoiding my brother's eyes.

I didn't want to stay but I didn't want to step foot out of this room either; It would make all of this seem even more real.

I flickered my sight towards Nurse Symonds who was tapping away on her computer keyboard. "I've just signed Rowan out here for you, to save you de-touring to the reception office."

"Thankyou." Finn shot her a grateful smile and bent down to pick my back pack up from its spot on the floor.

"I hope you feel better, Rowan." Nurse Symonds rose from her seat and walked towards Finn and I. "Listen, this school doesn't condone bullying of any kind..."

I immediately looked down where my hands started fumbling together.

"We're going to get this all sorted out for you. I promise." She held such a kind and sweet tone to her voice, but too bad her words only tightened that god-awful feeling in my chest.

'Get this all sorted out' that means more people are going to find out about this, more people knowing my business, more people looking down on me like I'm some weak, incapable child. I'm going to leave this place having to face these people.

And then when I get home, I'll have to face my dad and admit to him that I'm useless. He'll point out that I lied to him; I was given so many opportunities to tell him what was going on and why I was failing my classes, but I kept brushing it off. He's going to be so disappointed in me; again.

And then the worst of all, I'll have to face Melissa who's probably out there right now, fuming over the fact that she's been snitched on and no doubt planning my murder already.

There's no getting out of this; I was trapped inside one of my anxiety-ridden nightmares.

"Ro?"

I looked up towards my brother at the same time that he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "We can't stay here all day." He looked back at me with sad eyes.

I used the sleeve of my hoodie to wipe away any damp on my cheeks before hopping down from the examination bed and heading towards the door, but I paused before I could bring myself to open it.

I was ready to go home and wallow in bed for the rest of the day but my sweaty palms and the anxiety of facing the reality of this situation once I leave this room, was weighing heavily on me.