Write off the Fear

Chapter 7

Mim was sitting in a tight corner of her room, her knees up to her chest, clutching her favorite stuffed dolphin and eyes squeezed shut. The doubts and insecurities she's had since she was 11 start creeping back in and flooding her thoughts. She's so lost in her own self-deprecating thoughts that she doesn't notice when someone enters her room. She jumps in shock when a hand touches the side of her arms and she scrambles to get away but another hand on her other arm holds her steady.

"Hey, hey. Sorry for scaring you. You're okay." Liza says while rubbing Mim's arms soothingly.

Mim chances a look at Liza and relaxes a little bit, but the tension in her shoulders remains.

"I need you to breathe with me okay?" Liza asks and Mim nods.

Mim listens to Liza's voice directing her with breaths in and out until she feels her heartbeat slow to a normal rate. They now lean against the wall and sit side by side, Mim's head on Liza's shoulder, still holding on to her dolphin tightly. The familiarity of it all brings Mim back to when they were both younger and how Liza often did this whenever Mim had an anxiety attack.

"That was a really awesome song, Mims. Like, really hit me, straight in the feels. If you couldn't tell with all our tears earlier." Liza lets out a soft chuckle, "Thank you." Liza says and Mim hums in acknowledgement.

"I know what Nova did isn't great, and she's waiting to be able to apologize to you by the way, but you have to see the post Mims. There are so many great comments for you on there. Like so many."

At this, Mim lifts her head to look at Liza quizzically.

"Do you wanna see?" Liza asks her hopefully and Mim nods her head apprehensively.

Liza pulls out her phone and clicks a link that was sent to their group chat. The link opens up the app and brings them straight to the video of Mim in the basement. Mim doesn't really want to watch herself, but she notices that the video starts as she is taking her final breath before she starts to sing. On the bottom right hand corner of the screen, Mim can see faded hearts floating to the top as the video progresses and comments coming in on the bottom left. She catches a few of them as they rapidly travel up the screen as the song continues.

Wow! Who is that!?

She's got an amazing voice!

What song is this?? MY TEARS HAVE A MIND OF THEIR OWN!

Who is she??

I WISH SOMEONE WOULD SING TO ME LIKE THIS!

(Crying emoji x 5)

SONG TITLE PLEASE! (sad eyes emoji)

I KNOW HER! SHE GOES TO MY SCHOOL! (shocked face emoji)

The comments keep coming, but Mim can't keep up and soon the song ends. Mim can see that the camera shakes a little and then a few sobs and sniffles can be heard before the video cuts and the stream ends. Mim doesn't say anything, just stares at Liza's phone, not really sure what to make of it.

"People liked it?" Mim whispers, unbelieving of what she just saw.

"Yeah. They really did. You're amazing, Mim." Liza says as she places her arm over Mim's shoulders and pulls her in for a hug. Mim lets out a shaky breath and leans her head back onto Liza's shoulder.

"Thanks for showing it to me." Mim says to Liza.

Liza hums in answer then adds, "Would you maybe be ready to hear Nova out?" Liza enquires.

"Yeah. I guess so." Mim answers as she lifts her head again.

Liza stands and offers a hand out to Mim to take and pulls her up to her feet. Then walks out of the room to call Nova. Mim places Mr Finley on her bed by her pillows before taking a seat at the foot of her bed to wait for Nova.