Secrets | 5SOS

[24]

One afternoon, after a particularly grueling study session, Isabella met Jasper at their usual spot behind the school. She felt on edge, her nerves frayed and her mind in turmoil.

"Hey, Jasper," Isabella said, her voice strained. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, Bella. What's up?" Jasper replied, noticing the anxiety in her eyes.

"I need something to help me relax. Can I have one of your cigarettes?" she asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

Jasper’s expression darkened. "No, Bella. I’m not giving you a cigarette. You know how bad they are for you."

"But I need something, Jasper. I’m barely holding it together," Isabella pleaded.

Jasper shook his head firmly. "No. I’m not letting you mess yourself up like that. You’ve been through enough already."

Isabella felt a surge of frustration. "Fine," she snapped, turning away from him.

Later that evening, still feeling the intense pressure, Isabella remembered where Jasper usually kept his cigarettes. She waited until he was distracted, then quickly slipped one from his pack and hid it in her bag. Guilt gnawed at her, but the need for some kind of release was overwhelming.

Back home, Isabella locked herself in her room. She retrieved the stolen cigarette and lit it, taking a deep drag. The smoke burned her throat, and she coughed violently, but she persisted, hoping it would calm her nerves.

As she sat at her desk, trying to study, Isabella found it increasingly difficult to retain any information. The words blurred on the pages, and her mind raced uncontrollably. Her heart started pounding, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

She realized she was having an anxiety attack. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps, and she felt like the walls were closing in on her.

Michael was the only one home that evening, busy working on some paperwork in the living room. When he heard the faint sounds of distress coming from Isabella’s room, he immediately went to check on her.

"Isabella? Are you okay?" Michael asked, knocking on her door.

When he got no response, he opened the door to find her sitting on the floor, clutching her chest and struggling to breathe.

"Oh my god, Bella," Michael exclaimed, rushing to her side. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm here. Just breathe."

He gently guided her through some breathing exercises, speaking in a calm, soothing voice. "Inhale slowly, hold it... now exhale. That’s it. Just keep doing that."

Gradually, Isabella’s breathing began to stabilize, and the tightness in her chest eased. She leaned against Michael, tears streaming down her face.

"I can’t do this, Michael. It’s too much," she sobbed.

Michael held her close, rubbing her back gently. "You don’t have to do it alone, Bella. We’re all here for you. You’re stronger than you think, but you need to take care of yourself too."

Isabella nodded, feeling exhausted and defeated. "I’m so scared of failing."

"We all get scared, Bella. But you don’t need to hurt yourself to cope. We’ll get through this together, okay?" Michael reassured her.

Michael helped Isabella to her bed and sat with her, continuing to comfort her until she felt more stable. He noticed the smell of smoke lingering in the room but decided not to address it at that moment, focusing instead on calming her down.

"I’m sorry for being such a mess," Isabella said quietly.

"You’re not a mess. You’re just stressed out. And that’s okay," Michael said gently.