Sweater Paws

chapter two

It suddenly became overwhelming, the feeling of being lost. I didn't want to cry but as my body started to shake my visions blurred and soon i could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks. I tried to be quiet, not to draw attention to myself. I just wanted out but I couldn't find an exit, I couldn't find anything. I was lost. Lost in a sea of people I didn't know.

'Hey, are you alright?' I heard a voice say as a hand reached out and held my arm, rubbing it slowing in a comforting manner.

I tried to speak, but no words came. I started crying harder and shook my head. No I was not alright. I wanted out. That was all I wanted, all I could think about was out.

'Is there anyway I can help you?' His voice sounded legitimately concerned.

'Out' I managed to croak, but that was enough.

He held me close to him but not close enough that it made me uncomfortable and guided me to the exit. We stood outside for a while him just holding my hands, well he was holding the ends of my sweater but never the less my hands were still there. He just breathed a slow steady pace, and somehow without saying anything he made his breathing the centre of my attention. I wasn't long until I had calmed down a fair bit.

He broke the silence, 'My names Kye, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I thought that it might overwhelm you.' He stumbled over his words and it was only then that I realised how handsome he was. His light brown hair caught the light in a way that made his face simply glow, or maybe it was the smile that was spread his face. He was in ripped jeans, an old AC/DC shirt with an old red flannel shirt over it. He looked like the kinda person my brother would like. And that made me feel even more comfortable with him.

'Are you going to tell me your name?' He asked. I knew he meant it as a sweet gesture but I just didn't want this stranger to know my name, but was he really a stranger now? he had helped me through a panic attack and introduced himself to me. But there was that voice in the back of my mind that said I didn't really know him, that he could hurt me.

Apparently I'd taken too long to answer, 'Okay, well I'll just call you Sweater Paws then.' He said, and his smile was contagious.

There was something about him that made me feel better, he took me inside to a less crowed cafe and got us both hot chocolates. He pointed out the exit and made an extra effort to explain that it was easily visible from where we sat incase I needed more time out there.

I didn't talk much but he didn't seem to mind, he filled the silence rabbling on about nonsense, but it wasn't long before it stopped seeing like nonsense and I started paying attention.

'My sister loves hot coco, you see. I can remember when I first saw her have an anxiety attack, it was far worse than yours. Not to say yours wasn't like a real thing or valid or anything, but like you calmed own really quick which is nice. I mean the whole panic things not nice but you know what I mean.' He just kept rambling on and it honestly made me feel so much better than if I had to deal with own thoughts in silence.

'So why are you shopping on Christmas Eve?' He asks, the first real question he's asked me since he asked for my name. He looked at me hopefully, like maybe was ready to respond this time. He'd made all this effort for me so I figured he couldn't be too harmful.

I decided I could talk to him, 'I was trying to find the perfect gift for my brother,' I admitted.

"Ahhh she speaks,' he joked. 'I take it you didn't get anything did you?'

I shook my head, and looked down at the table. There's no way he would understand why this gift has to be so perfect.

'Hey,' he said, trying to be reassuring, 'I'm sure he'd love anything you got him.'

'No but this has to be perfect,' I spoke before i could really process what I'd said, he was going to think I was crazy.

He looked at me for a second before replying, 'Well let me help you.'