The Cry of Silence

9 - Anxiety

- M A E V E -

School was a nightmare right from the beginning. The lack of sleep had put me in a bad mood along with everything that had happened in the last few days. I couldn't concentrate on anything and kept snapping at people.

"Hey, what's up with you today? You seem off," Leah questioned me before first period.

"Nothing I'm fine," I accidentally snap back at her. She looked a bit taken back by my response and I instantly felt bad.

"I-I'm sorry Lea, I didn't get much sleep last night. I meant to say I'm all good." I say back more softly, smiling at her.

The bell had wrung for class to start but we didn't care. She hugged me tightly, causing me to stiffen slightly, both from pain but also not being used to it. When she pulled back, she looked at me and held my hands.

"I will always be here for you, okay?" She squeezed my hands tightly before dashing off to class. I watched her go and smiled softly. God she is an angel.

"Miss Sharp, you are late again. I'm afraid that means a detention for you." My teacher said as soon as I walked into the room.

I throw a quick glance in his direction before finding an empty seat at the back of the classroom, rolling me eyes once I was out of his sight. Science is one of my love-hate subjects and we were finally doing Astrophysics, one of my favourite topics of science. Despite this, I was unable to concentrate.

Thoughts kept flooding my head, preventing all other concentration. My leg started to bounce up and down and my fingers ran through my hair, subconsciously pulling at it. Images began to flash over my vision. Ones of what I imagined Serenity dying to look like, the assault, my dad in his drunken state, mum.

I could see my teacher talking but I couldn't hear his words. I felt my breathing get heavier and I started to pull harder at my hair, twirling it. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was him. The room was getting so hot. I couldn't feel the aircon anymore and I was sweating profusely.

I kept running my hands over my face and through my hair, tapping my fingers anxiously on my desk. Tears started pooling at my eyes as the flashes continued. The girl next to me noticed and leaned over, gently tapping me on the shoulder. My head shot up at the unexpected touch and I looked at her concerned face.

"Are you okay?" she whispered. The tears started to fall and I quickly stood, rushing out of the classroom. My teacher shouted after me but I couldn't hear him over the ringing in my ears. The world was starting to spin and breathing felt harder and harder. I vaguely heard someone call out my name however I couldn't distinguish who before I stumbled to the ground, darkness overtaking my vision.

I woke up with a figure crouching over me and my first reaction was to punch them square in the face.

"Holy shit, what the fuck?!" The figure yelped as they fell backwards. I leant backwards trembling before seeing who the person was that I hit.

"Oh my god Kai, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed as he rubbed his sore nose.

"Why the hell did you hit me?" he grumbled. "Well, I'm sorry but I didn't mean to, it was my first reaction to being startled," I shot back.

He sighed but didn't continue the argument. "Are you alright at least? You came out and basically just collapsed."

A slight blush coloured my pale cheeks. "Yes, uh, I'm fine, just got a bit stressed," I muttered quietly.

He nodded and stood up, reaching his hand out to help me up. I gratefully accepted and stood, holding tightly on his arm as a wave of dizziness washed over me.