My secret lives

Chapter 22

It hurts.

I'm grabbing and scratching at my chest as if it would help me get any air inside my longs.

Tears roll down my face as I pull out my phone.

Ares.

I need Ares.

My hands shake and I'm not able to see my surroundings anymore.

Everything is blurry and my lungs are empty.

My mind is numb and I can't help but let the tears in my eyes fall.

As my panic attack is full on hitting me, I'm finally able to dial the right number.

Ares picks up almost immediately, "hey theny" he greets me with some stupid nickname he made up long ago- like a few years ago.

"A-Ares" I whimper out as my body shakes.

"Athena what's wrong?" He asks fearfully with worry lacing his voice.

"Vincenzo's like J-John" I cry out, hyperventilating.

I can practically feel his anger, "what! He hurt you?!" He almost screams mad.

"I-..no I.." I stop talking and can only focus on trying to breathe anymore.

Black spots start to enter my vision.

"Athena, I need you to listen to me okay. Sit up straight and place your hands on your knees" Ares instructs me gently.

I do as he says, "now gently start tapping your thighs one at the time, look around and focus" he says.

I blink fast it and shake my head as I try to clear my vision from the blacks spots, tears and blurriness.

Everything is formed into each other blurry- just spots of color.

"Tell me what you can see" he tells me.

I'm breathing too fast to even try to get a word into.

I think Ares noticed that so he tells me to close my eyes for a second and to take a deep breath with him.

I try to take in a breath but once more can't do it, "I c-can't" I start hyperventilating even faster.

"Athena I need you to try Rosie" he says lovingly.

A tear falls down my face, he used to call me that all the time, Ares did too but only occasionally.

I take a deeper breath before a small sob escapes my lips.

Don't cry

I can't cry

"Good, again" he says.

Once more I do as he wants, then he tells me to open my eyes.

I do that and even though I'm still hyperventilating, my vision isn't as blurry as before.

"Now tell me what you can see"