Phonophobia

Today was the day to get my gift. I was more excited than nervous I'd say. My cousin Isabela got hers a week or two before me and it went so well. Pretty flowers bloomed through every crevice of Casita.

My Mamá kept making sure that my bow looked perfect and that my dress didn't mange to pick up any dust. Casita jumpscared the bother of us as we just hear a small crash on the ground coming from the clock that Casita knocked towards us. I guess it was time.

Mamà turned towards the clock with a lighthearted frown.
"Don't scare us to death before the ceremony Casita"  The dark cloud above her head immediately dissipating into thin air.
She turned back to me with a fond smile as she tucked an escapee whisk of hair behind my ear.

"Are you ready my sundrop?" I gave a few sure nods before Mamà lead me out of the nursery, downstairs so the crowd wouldn't see me just yet.
I gave Mamá a big hug before she went to join Papá,Abuela and my two primas by my door.

I can do this.

I muttered that phrase over and over until I was sure enough.

Tiles flipped over to give me a fancy path to the door. The smile on my face grew just a bit more at that. One deep breath and exhale later, I finally start towards the stairs that lead to my door. My family gave me warm smiles, especially Isa and Luisa. Welled up tears were lit up by candlelight in my padres' eyes. Even Abuela seemed on the verge of tearing up.

The doorknob reflected my familia's faces before I slowly reached over and twisted the golden fate. A soft click sounded before the door shimmered. But... nothing happened?

I looked toward my familia and even they seemed a bit confused. Words caught in my throat before the fireworks went off. Fireworks that were meant to celebrate whatever my gift ended up being. To celebrate another Madrigal that will be able to help the community.

My knees buckled beneath me as I grabbed the sides of my head. It felt as if my head was going to explode to bits. Why won't the sounds stop? My throat ached. Was I screaming? It doesn't matter. I just want them to shut up. Words were spoken around me with hovering hands but they sounded so distant. The only thing I could actually hear was the unbearable high pitched ringing in my ears. One though entered my head through all noise. My room is open.

Through that thought, I pushed myself up quick enough to make myself dizzy. I shook off the hands around me and ran into my room, locking the door from anyone entering. My back slid down against the door as one of my fists knocked against my head a few times. The other gripped at my hair hard enough to make it painful. Probably pulling out some hairs and ruining the effort Mamá put in.

I couldn't even focus on anything in my new room. Everything was too blurry and too loud. Too loud. Too...quiet? Why was it quiet now? Maybe I went deaf? Maybe the fireworks stopped? Fabric made rough contact on my closed eyes, trying to wipe my tears with the ribbon that was my bow. My hands made contact with the ground. My breaths coming out in frantic gasps.

Once the black spots stopped dancing before my eyes, I could finally get a somewhat clearer look at my new room.

The walls, ceiling and ground were covered in foam pannels in sunset tones. A small bed was slightly higher than the ground but was otherwise tucked into the soft panels.

With legs like jelly, I dragged myself to my bed and fell face first into my bed. The familia knows that the casita would open the door if I was in any real danger. They'll know I'm fine. For now though, I let the tempting call of sleep drag me into my peaceful slumber.

I hope they won't be loud tomorrow.