Man in the Wall (Who is he?)

Chapter 7 - Trembling hands

I awake from the worst dream one could possibly imagine to the sound of someone banging on my door. With my eyes too weak to open, limbs too tired to move, I do what any other frustrated being in my position would.

"What do you want mom!?" I yell in frustration.

They knock this time. My mind drifts to school. "I'm staying in today! Don't feel like going to school!" Back to the banging. "What!?" I say as I sit up in bed and open my eyes.

This is not my room!

The memories of yesterday's incidents come rushing in my head, the way the cold of an ice-cream does when you eat it too fast. Reality struck me like lighting does to an oak tree. I feel like I'm on fire. No really, I'm getting hot.

My brain is in overdrive, causing hot flashes and sweating. I'm starting to feel lightheaded; fatigue; weak; my muscles are tensed; my heart is beating rapidly. I feel like my chest and throat are swelling and closing off, making it hard for me to breathe. I look down at my trembling hands.

That's when I realize that I'm having a panic attack.

I try to get out of bed, but fail miserably as I find myself on the ground, shaking and breathing heavily. Tears start making their way down my cheeks. I don't know what to do.

Just then the door bursts open, I attempt to lift my head in order to see who came in, but every inch of my body feels weak and shaky.

"Vivian, what's going on!?"

I know that voice, It's Peggy. Thank goodness. She bends down beside me and lifts my face towards her to examine me. She stares at me for a while before something clicks in her head.

"You're having a panic attack. Have you had one before?" She says slowly, making me hear each and every word. "Yes. Only... once... before. Was... horrible," I try to get my sentences out smoothly but only manage to speak a word at a time with each breath I take.

"Don't try to fight it. Try to focus on your breathing. I'm going to count and you take slow, deep and complete breaths on my counts okay?" I quickly nod in agreement.

She begins to count, at first I can't slow down. At times my breath would hitch and I end up taking double breaths. But she keeps going and soon I'm breathing at the pace of two counts.

"That's good. Remember that you're just having a panic attack.  Nothing more serious is going to happen to you," she says ever so kindly and assuring.

She helps me to my feet and sits me down on the bed, "You can lay back if you want to," and I do just that as she sits down next to me.

"So, what's your favorite movie to watch?" she questions with all the calm in the world, not a worry in sight.

How is asking me questions right now going to help me? I wonder. So I simply stare at her, but it's as if she knows exactly what I'm thinking.

"It will distract you, redirect your thoughts and help you calm down." She politely explains, but I still don't seem to understand.

"How will it... calm me... down?" My breathing is still slightly complicated.

"Because you need to carry on as if nothing is happening. You will soon feel that the panic is, well, 'boring' in a sense." She explains to the best of her ability.

"Bad Boys I and II." I let her know after a moment.

"You're favourite TV series?", "The Vampire Diaries." I answer.