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15

"Do you ever experience episodes of intense, sudden fear, where it leaves you in a state of finding it difficult to breathe, or intense trembling?"

"Yes."

There were so many questions flying over my head that had to be asked over and over again because I would zone out, trying to come up with the 'right' answer.

"Have you ever experienced a feeling of worthlessness?"

"How often do you avoid things because of a feeling of fear, or anxiety?"

"Do you ever feel as though you're hopeless?"

More and more questions were asked, until they finally stopped and Josh squeezed my hand softly.

"It's over," he whispered softly.

"What's happening now?" I asked.

"She's giving me a minute to calm you down and then she's going to tell us what's going on inside that head of yours. Well, at least what she can."

Sure enough, moments later, the door opened up again and the lady cam back in, a smile on her face.

"It's quite apparent to me that Miss Aria is suffering from three anxiety disorders. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder."

Josh nodded. I noticed he had never let go of my hand.

"I expected that."

"I'm glad you expected it. But there was another thing that alarmed me slightly. The answers I have gotten from Aria tell me that she's also suffering from a form of depression."

Josh nodded slowly. He ran a hand through his hair. "I knew that too."

"I'd like to prescribe medication. It seems that that's a way we can go at this issue."

Josh nodded once again. "Absolutely."

The woman grabbed a pen from her desk and a piece of paper that was sitting on her folder. Scribbling down a few things, she then folded the sheet and handed it to Josh.

"You can get these at any pharmacy."

Josh smiled softly in my direction. "Thank you." We said in unison, making Josh chuckle.

"I'll leave you two now. Have a nice day."

It was over. I could now finally breathe.

"How'd it go?" Tyler approached Josh and I where we were supposed to all meet up.

"Really, really well. I mean, it's not exactly good things, but she could tell us straight up what was going on."

"What's happening with all that? What'd she say?"
"PTSD, Panic Disorder, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, and Depression. We have to go to the pharmacy to pick up the medication."

Jenna smiled in my direction. "This is great."

I nodded with a smile.

"Aria, can you and I go for a walk?" Tyler asked suddenly. My head snapped up. I looked skeptically at him, but nonetheless agreed. 

"Ty, I'm gonna go with Josh and get the medication. You have the keys, meet us at Taco Bell." Jenna called. Tyler nodded and turned on his heel.

"Let's go."

Linking arms with me, Tyler and I walked side by side. He took me just down the street where a park bench sat.

We sat there for a while before Tyler turned to me anxiously.

"Can — Can I see your arms?"

The way he asked was soft and scared, as if he was scared of my reaction. I felt his voice pull at my heart, and I gave in.

He rolled up my sleeves as I nodded.

The lines that littered my arms were plain in sight now, just like they had been when I first met Josh. They were raised off of my skin just the smallest amount, pink in colour.

"Aria." Tyler said sharply, scaring me slightly. "When was this one?" He pointed to a long, deep scratch running down the centre of my arm.

"The day everything happened." I replied hesitantly.

"Did you do it?"

I nodded.

"Have you done it since?"

This is one I hesitated on. "Once." I finally replied.

Tyler sighed. "I have to clean this one when we get home," he pointed to the one he had pointed at before. "It might get infected."

I twisted the ends of my hair nervously. Tyler bought my attention back to him in no time though.

"You know, I went through this stuff too. So did Josh. You aren't the only one, you aren't weird. You're very much so normal. I understand how hard it is, how useless you just feel. Just know you had three people who you can talk to whenever you need."