Book Club

-FIFTEEN-

A/N: Brace yourself children (children? you're probably all older than me). Also major trigger warning. Fun times here on book club.

FLORA'S POV

It's okay. Everything is okay. Breathe. Just breathe.

I sit in the hospital waiting room anxiously. My hands are shaking. I'm sweating. My throat is raw and sore. My eyes struggle to hold in my tear.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

I can't have a panic attack. Not here. Not now. I can't. I need to be strong. I need to keep it together for Chloe.

Just the thought of Chloe is enough to make my eyes water. I wipe my cheek quickly as I tear spills out. People are staring at me which is only making my anxiety worse.

Then finally my someone bursts through the hospital doors. Celia and Danny. I run up to Celia and wrap my arms around her tightly, crying into her shoulder.

"And we're hugging now. Okay." She pats my back awkwardly.

I cry harder and she hugs me back. "It's okay Flora. She'll be alright."

"How do you know?" I say softly in between deep breaths.

"Because we're here to save the day." She smiles at me reassuringly.

I feel myself relax a little and let go of Celia. Danny heads back to the waiting room where I had been waiting very impatiently. I sit back down in a seat between Danny and Celia.

I've only been in an hospital once. I was eight. I had fallen down the stairs while reading and cut my face on the metal railing. I had to get stitches. I don't remember the hospital very much but I do remember the fall. 

That was the first time I had an real panic attack. I remember touching the part of my head that hit the railing. When I took my hand away my fingers were stained with blood. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to scream or yell for help but I couldn't breathe. I started crying and shaking but I couldn't move. My parents found me passed out on the floor and brought me to the hospital.

That was the most scared I've ever been. Not only was I bleeding and injured but I also thought I was dying. I didn't know what a panic attack was. I didn't know that it would soon pass. All I knew was that I felt like dying.

I was a worried kid. I used to worry about everyone and everything. My parents thought it was just a phase. I think they still believe my anxiety is just a phase. It's not.

"So do we get to see her?" Danny asks. He's tapping his foot, looking around the room nervously.

"I don't know." I admit and a sick feeling returns to my stomach. "I don't know. I don't know anything. I don't know if she's okay, I don't know-"

"Flora." Celia grabs my hand and I shut my mouth. "Everything is going to be alright."

"I know." I breathe deeply. "I know I'm just-" A tear runs down my cheek. "I'm a mess."

"Hey." Celia cups my face with her hand and wipes away my tear with her thumb. "You are not a mess."

I smile and nod my head, trying to believe her words. I'm not a mess. Anyone would react this way if they were in my situation. Right?

"I don't mean to intrude on-" Danny makes some sort of gesture and Celia's face goes red." -whatever this is but are they going to let us see Chloe or talk to her? Or are we just here for nothing?" He asks.

"We don't know Danny." Celia speaks for me. "But we're not here for nothing. Chloe needs us." Her voice is louder now, more powerful.

"Well I need air." He says, standing up. "I'll be outside if you need me." He walks out of the hospital.