The One That Didn't Get Away

Seventh

Liam

She looks at me and takes a big breath.

"Panic attack"

My eyes widen. I'm not sure how to respond. She knows this.

"I-I usually have them when..." she trails off and bites her lip. "When I see something that reminds me of..."

I look at her moving my hand, telling her to go on.

"... a stressful event in my life." She sighs and goes on. "Mine is a result of PTSD."

She looks away, uneasy.

I try to lighten up the mood. Glancing down at my watch I exclaim, "It's 3:47 and 2, wait no 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 seconds!"

She laughs lightly. Hugging herself, she looks at me. "I'm not sleepy anymore," she pouts. "I am hungry though"

I smile, and grab my car keys. "I think that's not that bad of a problem... I can always fix it!"

She smiles and I grab her hand. We walk outside, to my car. It's snowing, and when I look back at her, there's a fleck of snow on her nose. Adorable.

We get into the car and I start the heater.

I drive for a few minutes, until I find an open Wendy's. "Drive-through or inside?" I look at her for the first time since we got in. She's fiddling with her thumbs.

"What?" She looks at me with wide eyes.

"Do you want to eat here of get drive-through?"

She thinks for a minute. "Drive- through"

"What do you want?"

She smiles. "Food"

I sigh and go order. We eat inside of the car, quietly. I try to think of a comversation starter, but nothing comes up.

"It's not your fault" she murmurs quietly. "I was... bothered by some kids. Not now anymore though."

I look up at her. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," she looks at me. "You don't have to tell me."

"But I want to tell you"

And that is the sentence that makes my heart swell, and I remember why I like this girl.