tyler dealt with ptsd on a daily basis.
sometimes it's easier than others, but unfortunately, today was not one of those days.
he felt his anxiety increase quickly, his heart thumping and pounding against his rib cage. sweat glands formed on his head and gathered on the palm of his hands.
he tried to close his eyes and pretend he was elsewhere, but minute after minute, nothing was working. a panic attack was nearly exploding out of him as the car drove on.
"tyler, you okay?" his dad asked, looking at him seriously.
"p-please tell me we're almost home." he responded, shaking in his seat and grabbing his head. the thoughts of the car smashing and killing his family members circled through his head frantically.
"two minutes, promise. just breathe."
///
when they both arrived to their house, tyler raced upstairs to his bed without even closing the door. he sat down, closing his eyes again as he focused on his breathing.
halfway through, the panic attack subsided and he could finally grasp life again. he coughed a few times, sitting there struggling but breathing.
breathing.
safely at home.
and then he noticed the girl staring at him across the hallway floor.
his eyes widened and he yelled, "what are you looking at?!"
she seemed surprised. "i was making sure you were okay. are you, ty?"
he groaned at the nickname and rolled his eyes, standing up and saying, "it's tyler."
he shut the door without an answer.
///
also disclaimer: i do not have ptsd so i know i cannot explain or showcase it perfectly, so i apologize if anyone's offended or anything
