Screams

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//TRIGGER WARNING: ASTROPHOBIA AND MENTIONS OF ABUSE\\

Phil

I will never forget that moment.

Thunder rumbled far above me, but I could feel it in my chest.
That was when I heard the scream. It froze my blood faster than the cold. I looked to my side.
Dan wasn't there.
I panicked.
I spun around and scanned the stormy street.
Had he slipped? Fallen?
I couldn't see him.
I squinted against the pouring rain.

Lightning splintered the sky again, illuminating the street for an instant.

I saw him. He was standing a few meters back. His head was drooped over. His fists clenched the bags and his shoulders were shrugged close to his hears.
Thunder ripped through the air. I walked closer.
      "Dan?" I called. But I could hardly even hear myself.

Another flash whipped the scene.
Another scream tore through my ears. I saw it happen.

It was Dan's scream.

He dropped his bags onto the soaking ground and covered his ears.
I blinked, trying to clear my vision as I sped up.
Lighting.
Dan cried out in terror.
Lightning.
He screamed.

He was screaming for someone or something to stop.
I shouted for him as he stumbled to the side, smacking against a wall. He fell. He didn't try to catch himself. He just kept his hands pressed against his ears as he fell hard onto the wet ground.

another clap of thunder rolled by

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another clap of thunder rolled by.
I was running now, my footsteps slapping the wet concrete.
Lightning flashed as I finally stood over Dan. He was crumpled on the ground. Ears covered. Soaking wet. Sobbing. Hyperventilating. Screaming.

I had never seen such terror in his eyes.

I knelt down in the pooling rain and grabbed his arms.
"Dan! Dan- please!" I cried as he writhed under my grip.
"Stop! Get away! Help!" He screeched.
I began to cry as well. It broke my heart to see him this way. To hear his screams.
"Dan! Bear, it's me! It's Phil- you're okay- it's okay!" I said, working off my coat. I draped it over him. He was trembling violently.
"Someone.... help.." Dan begged quietly.
I looked into his eyes as lightning struck the sky followed immediately by a grumble of thunder. The storm was right over us.
"Dan. It's me. Look at me. It's Phil. What's wrong?" I cried. I held his face in my cold hands and looked right into his fearful eyes.
He stared for a long while. Trembling beneath me.
"Phil?" He sobbed, his eyes blinking rapidly as he gasped for air, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He repeated like a broken record.
I stroked his wet cheekbone with my thumb.
"Shhh- You're okay. Everything is okay, you're safe now." I said, pulling him up to me and hugging him close.

He grew silent, though his trembling and his ragged breathing remained.

When thunder rumbled he would flinch and retreat further into my chest.

How had I never known Dan was afraid of thunder?

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