Crowded

Chapter 1

This disturbing yet curious sound could be heard again from my half-opened window. It's the sound of the life actually, the sound of people living their lives in the real world, going to work, meeting their friends outside at the café, a place where I almost never went.

From my balcony it seems to be pretty cool, but I'm too scared to go there. Since I started my studies at home, my small flat became my world. 

And now I can't get out of it. In this hot summer I can't go out, I can't hang out with my friends because I'm afraid of people, of outside, I'm agoraphobic... 

" You have one message :  Sweetie I'm sorry but today I can't do grocery shopping for you I have a mishap at work and I think I'll come back home late. Take care- " I hang up and throw the phone on my bed

" Ah guess I'll have to go there by myself " I sigh. I'm not really reassured but I must go there today or else I'll starve. It's 5 pm so maybe there will be less people. I take a deep breath and get ready. It's been 1 month and a half that I haven't got out of my house and last time I did , it was a disaster.

I take my phone and leave " come on Allysha you can do it. It shouldn't be this hard, just buy what you need and come back quickly. No big deal right ? " .  I get in my car and start it . There's not a lot of traffic so I arrive in less than 15 minutes. On the parking lot, I see a lot of people with full bags and excited kids .

I finally get out of the car and try to not mind the people I see " Stay calm Allysha, stay... Calm " I head slowly toward the mart, but the more I get closer and the more the noises of this kind of crowd become unbearable. All these people coming in my direction, to the left, to the right start to make me feel dizzy. This feeling of being surrounded and being unable to escape frightens me.

" I can't do it " . I run as fast as I can to my car and lock myself in it . Later in that night I tell everything to my best friend and we agree to meet at 10 pm. I take my jacket and meet her near my house.

" Come I'll show you something " she holds my hand. We're in summer so there's still people in the streets. Then, we arrive in a touristic alley

" I thought it was a good start to bring there for curing your phobia " she gives me a drink and we walk near the beach. Indeed, I enjoy this  friendly atmosphere with few people " It's gonna be okay. "