The Audacious Hearts

Argument

I looked at the door on my right and another sob peirced through the air. I gulped and pushed the door open.

"Anya...." That was the only scream that left my lips because there she was, crouched besides her bed, her lungs grasping for air, holding onto herself. Terrified eyes, trembling lips and shaking body.

Moving quickly, I knelt beside her. She was shivering, clutching her arms tightly, digging those long, perfectly sculpted nails into her smooth soft skin. Her eyes were red and moist and hairs were dishelved as if she has tugged at them so hard that a few even broke out. Her lips were whispering something incoherent.

She gets panic attacks?

I wrapped my arms around her and kept her head against my chest. She sniffed, shivering.
Her heart was racing tooo fast. I could feel it the way it was druming against me.  Her hands didn't engulfed me back and continued their torture on her skin.

"Shhh......it's okay, Aanu. Everything's fine." I whispered softly, patting her head. She shook her head frantically, muttering a barely audible 'no' and clinging tighter to me.

"Shhh....it's okay baccha. I am here, look. You are not alone. I am here for you." I assured her again and she broke into sobs. Her shoulders slumped against me and her body started shaking.

My heart ached seeing her, usually so bright and cheerful, now crumbling in my arms.

I tightened my hold around her frame and whispered, "Tell mewhat happened, aanu? Tell me so I can help you. Did anyone say anything? Tell me. I promise I will rip their heads off."

And I wasn't lying. She don't deserves that. Nobody does. The smiling faces and happy souls are made to be like that, always. The people who radiate happiness and light should never be subjected to such darkness.

I gently pulled back and made her look at me. " Aanu, look at me." I held her chin in my hands. "Breathe okay. Just focus on breathing. "

She shook her head, unable to comply.

"No, Aanu. You can. Com'on. Breathe with me okay." I motivated, tucking the strands of her hairs behind her ears. Her lungs begged for air and her chest heaved up and down rapidly.

She raised her slender, shaking hand and pointed her finger towards the bedside shelf.

"What is it?" I asked unsure of what she was trying to say.

Her hand pointed again, so I stood up and opened the drawer. My eyes widened in shock at the sight of pills lying there.

Pills? She has been taking pills to cope up with her attacks? And God knows from how long? That's so wrong and....stupid. She has her whole family to ask for help and yet here she is relying on the lifeless artificial means.

I closed it abruptly and turned around, only to find her grasping for air. I gritted my teeth and fished out the pills from the drawer, quickly kneeling besides her again.

"The very last time." I warned her. She fished the bottle out of my fists and gulped two before I could even stop her.

"Anya" The name came out as a warning. Slumped against me again, still struggling with shaky breaths.

I sighed, wrapping my arms around her in a comforting hold. "Please calm down, now. Please Aanu." I whispered against her hairs.

"Th...e..y.. they will never stop doing that." She managed to utter and I patted her head in assurance.

"Who Anya? Whom are you talking about?" I asked, trying to make sense of her words. She shake her head again.

"Th....e..y...will..ne...ve..r stop fighting over the dead." she uttered and my hands stilled the process of tucking her wavy hairs behind her ears.