You had a speech, you're speechless

01

Alana's POV

I'm running as fast as I can, out of my therapists office, out of the building, away from all the pressure that weights on my chest. The pressure people giving me by forcing me to talk.

As long as I can remember I've struggles with talking to adults. My therapist told me a year ago what I have is called selective mutism. It's an anxiety disorder where you can talk to some people and can't to other. For me it means talking to my parents and peers was never a problem but when it came to talking to teachers, therapists or even waiter it's just impossible to talk. It's like my mouth is completely shut down and I can't help it.

I'm running for about fifteen minutes now and I'm completely out of breath but I'm not thinking of slowing down anytime soon. I need to run away from my mental health issues. I look at my shoes, trying to catch my breath while running into someone. Shit. I fell on the ground. The hard stones scrapping my knees up. It hurts so bad I felt tears in my eyes but try to blink them away. I stand up a few seconds after I fell and was about to walk away as the woman I bumped into touched my shoulder. "Hey sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?", she asked. I don't look up at her. I'm unable to make eye contact, a symptom of my selective mutism. Her voice sounds familiar but I can't tell why. I'm just staring at her shoes while she tried again: "Look at me. Are you okay lovely? I didn't meant you falling over me! What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Yes, I am hurt but that's not what's bothering me. I'm about to cry because she almost forced me to make eye contact with her and I just couldn't do it. Damn it. What should I do now? I'm not able to answer her. I need to escape the situation but therefore I need to say that I'm okay. "Sweetheart your knees are bleeding, do they hurt?" That was my chance to interact. I slowly nodded with my head. The woman grabs my hand: "Okay, come on. We're going to my apartment and I will clean them up!" I follow her to where she lives.

Taylor's POV

I was on the way to my apartment after a long day at my recording studio as a teenager bumped into me. I was in shock, then saw her lying on the ground blinking her tears away. I asked if she was okay but she didn't answer. I tried once more but no reaction from her. Was she mean or arrogant? Or was she just in shock from falling and being hurt? Then I saw her knees bleeding. I asked if her knees hurt to which she slowly nodded. I knew it was best to take her to my apartment and clean her knees up there.

Now we're in my living room. "You can sit down on the couch sweetheart", I say. No reaction. "Are you in shock?", I asked. Still no reaction. I tried once more: "Can you sit down for me please?" Not even a little reaction from her. I place my hands on her shoulders and lead her to the couch. Then I slowly push her down so she sits down. She's not looking at me, I can't remember her facing me one time. I'm worried she's in such a shock or she's much more hurt than I thought. "Okay sweetheart I'm going to get my first aid bad and bandage your knees okay?" I smiled when I saw a little nod comming from her.

Alana's POV

The woman asked me if I was in shock. No I'm not. I have selective mutism and can't talk to you. Damn it. I'm still trying to figure out who the person is and why she sounds so familiar. While she was in another room looking for the first aid kit I looked around in the room. I see pictures of my favorite singer Taylor Swift. Wow this woman must be a hardcore fan. She even has pictures from Taylor's family in her living room.

Too soon the tall blonde came back and checked on my knees. She lift up my shorts, making my old scars from self harm visible. Shit. I don't know if she saw them. I don't think she did because she didn't say anything about them. She carefully sprays antiseptic on my knees and places a plaster on both of my knees. As she did that she was kneeing in front of me and I finally bring off the courage to look at her. Our gazes don't meet because she's watching my knees but I finally saw who is taking care of me.

Authors note

Yeah so I decided to write an adoption story which includes my mental health conditions.
I know this chapter is kind of short but I wanted to start this book and it's currently 02:15 AM.
I don't know if I spoiled too much in the first chapter because Tay and Alana already met but I was too excited for writing a long introduction.
This story is kinda inspired by my favorite authors here tsjeweled13 charlottexkiely  & 22ME13
Let me know what you think!
-Emely