Not One Sided

13. Panic

Melikşah's POV

My body dropped itself on the ground as it wasn't in my hold. My hands began to tremble and fingertips numbed. Darkness erupted all over. I placed my palm over my ears as though people were screaming and shouting around. But in reality, only Elçin rested my head over her shoulder.
She repeatedly asked, but I couldn't hear her words. I tried opening my eyes wide enough, but all I could see was darkness in front of me. Everything engulfed me. What I felt at that moment was: I was in a bath tub filled with water, the lights were off and unable to get out, my lungs threatened me and I ran out of breath. And that, my breath could stop any second.
Eventually, my breath began to get normal and I could hear a little of what she said.

"Tamam, Sakın ol Sultanım..."

My heart found peace at that moment. I felt that I was reviving.

"Özür dilerim,  I shouldn't have told all that." She cried as she caressed my forehead which rested on her shoulder.

"Elçin hatun" I mumbled.

"Hadi Sultanım.." She helped me to the bed and gave a glass of water.

She hesitated a little and then told,
"Sultanım, w-what just happened..
Özür dilerim-"

"Why are you apologising Elçin hatun? It wasn't because of you. I too can't understand that state of mind.
Ama thankyou so much for calming me down. Çok Sağol."

She still had a worried look.

"Should I call the healers?"

"Yok. Gerek yok." I replied

"Tamam. I think you should rest a little. I'll leave."

I nodded slightly.

She stepped towards the door in order to leave. And then stopped for a second and turned towards me.

"Sultanım, iyi bak kendine" and smiled.

Elçin's POV

What my eyes witnessed, was unexplainable to my heart.
Something which I had never seen before. For a few seconds I thought he had been poisoned. But no. He wasn't in his state of mind. Perhaps anxiety had trapped him entirely that he probably didn't even realise that I was right beside him.
My heart was at peace the moment my name crossed his lips.

Really upset by what happened, I went to a healer's room.
I knocked at her door.

"Elçin hatun, come in. Iyi mısın?"

"Ewet Ayşe. Iyim. How are you?"

"I'm good too." She replied

"Ayşe, I actually..actually wanted to seek some help for a friend of mine. So I came here to discuss with you."

I further added,
"I don't know how to explain exactly.
A person experiences a sort of a trauma where he loses his state of mind. Perhaps because of anxiety he feels trapped inside that he doesn't even realise anyone beside him. His hands tremble in fear. He breathes heavily and sweats. And after a few minutes, calms down. Do you know about this?"  I asked worries my.

She replied,
"The way you've explained me of the incident, I think you're talking of panic attacks. These can occur to any person, of any age and the reason behind these can be many as well. Maybe due to a post traumatic stress or overload of things in their mind, unable to bear."

"But how can one get rid of such things? Also they take place all of  sudden. Isn't it dangerous?"

"Elçin hatun, I don't know much about these, but definitely there are ways to overcome. And depending on how frequent they are, they can pose a harm to one's mental health."

She further spoke,
"Elçin hatun, there's a man, Mehmet bey. He lives just a little distance from here. He has researched on such things. If you consult him, I'm sure you'll be able to find a solution to this."

"Sağol Ayşe. I feel quite relieved now but I'll meet Mehmet bey tomorrow morning."

"Ya Rabbim, I hope nothing serious happens to my Melikşah. He doesn't share what lies in his heart, but I will heal him. Ewet, I will." I thought to myself.

I left Ayşe's room thanking her and approached towards mine. I opened my door and found a small piece of paper on the floor.

Unfolded the paper, it read:

"My life is incomplete without your loving presence, Elçin."

__________________

Sakın ol, Sultanım - Calm down, My sultan

Çok Sağol - Thanks a lot

Özür dilerim - I'm sorry

Iyi bak kendine - Take care of yourself

Iyi misin? - Are you fine?