Through their eyes

Chapter 8

Chapter 8-Sensory Overload
~Possible Trigger Warnings for this chapter~

     It was the next day, Today seemed off. But I ignore the thought, thinking it s just the thought of yesterday. "If anything happens, come to me." I say to Melissa, dropping her off at class.

     It wasn't the same teacher as yesterday and I wave at the teacher. He smiles and waves back, I smile and go to my class. "Hey, look who's back." The teacher jokes and I roll my eyes, laughing. "Yep."

     I go and hug Leo, who's listening to music. I blink my eyes a lot at the lights, oddly bright today. "Hii." I say at him, poking him to get his attention. "Hii." He smiles, laughing as I sit next to him.

     "Lunch today?" I ask, humming at him as he nods. "Of course." He says as he has a earbud out. There was a little bit of time before class and so I just play on my phone, talking to Leo during the time.

      The bell eventually rings and we have put our phones away, I yawn already tired. He laughs at me before he stops and we get to work.

     This school is a K-12 school as mentioned, but there is a College building as well! So if we need to go to a college that you for sure can trust with having the help you need, it's here. 'Flying to The Clouds College'.

     It seems cool, I may go there or maybe Melissa can go there when she's college age. I smile, hopeful at the future. I doodle while class drags off.

     Eventually the bell rings and I can go to electives. I go to Child Development. I love this elective, and I can't wait to be a SPED teacher. I can help kids like Melissa and kids like myself who are more 'high functioning' or more independent I guess.

     I do my work happily, but also think of Leo. I hum in a flush at thinking of him. I wince at the banging of kids on their desks. Why so loud? I ignore it, kinda, and do my work. The lights get horribly brighter and I kinda rock in my seat.

     Flyer that class is Lunch, I've been waiting all day for Lunch and yet my body feels dreadful of it. I get lunch and sit at the table with Leo, he had a bunch of friends and they were all talking loudly.

     I smile weakly at him, rocking and pinching at my wrist. Leo doesn't seem to notice, but I'm happy he's with his friends and having a good time.

     He smiles at me, eating some of his food. I giggle at him and smile back. "You having fun with your friends?" I ask him, He nods and smiles. "Yes." He says as smiles at me and talks with his friends.

      I pinch my wrist more and bite my lip, breathing a little heavy as I look all around. Leo laughs along with his friends and I tear up, going on my phone.

     I put on music and rock harder as I look all around, breathing heavily as the lights are blindingly bright. I cry, not hearing if anyone around me was trying to help.

     I rock and cry, holding my eyes closed and covering my ears, the earbuds not working for the sound anyway. Someone takes me and puts me in I assume the safe room, I scratch at my wrist.

     I rock and someone's trying to talk to me and I cry harder, It's so bright, It's so loud. Why is it so bright? Why is it so loud.. That's all I can think while I cry and breath heavily, scratching my wrist.

     Eventually I open the eyes and the light is still bright, I cry and hit at my head. "Stop it. Stop stop stop." I say and kick the walls, wanting it to stop being bright.

     Someone hugs me, I keep kicking and crying, and the person just hushes next and rubs my hair. I hug back but still kick and cry, "Too bright.." I cry out and the light that you can see when they're on if your eyes are closed is gone, the lights appearing to be off or at least dimmed.

     I rock and hug into them, sniffling and opening my eyes slowly. I look around as I blink, trying to see where I am and who's near me. I look at who's hugging me and it's Leo, my eyes widen and I stare at him kinda in horror.

     "Oh my god, Hi." I say and hide my face and wipe it away. There are noise canceling headphones on me and the lights are off. I sigh, still overloaded with emotions but I'm more calm now.

     "Hey it's okay. Don't hide from me." He says softly, frowning at me. "I'm just glad your okay. I'm sorry I didn't notice you were getting overloaded." He says sadly and now I frown.

     "No-No! It's not your fault, You were having a good time with your friends. I'm sorry I'm pulling you away from them." I say and rub my wrist.

     Leo frowns and lifts my chin, "No love, I had a good time but your safety is more important." He says and I smile softly. "Thanks.. I noticed things were more bright and loud today but I ignored it all." I say, and he frowns again.

     "Please acknowledge it love, Thats what lead to this. We could've got you shades, or the headphones." He says and rubs my hair, and hum and nod.

     "I'm sorry. It didn't seem like something that important to acknowledge it." I say and shrug, rubbing my eyes. I still rock a little but I snuggle into him, definitely calmer and at least moderately better now.

     He smiles and the staff cough a little. "Hey, you calmed him down." They say and smile at us. I nod, "I'm still hella overloaded but I feel better."

~1,008 words