Short Stories By Seraph

Panic

Prompt: "Tell the story of a scar, whether a physical scar or emotional one. To be a writer, said Stephen King, 'The only requirement is the ability to remember every scar .'"

URL: https://thewritepractice.com/short-story-ideas/

Naomi

She was alone. Always alone. Naomi felt herself descending into the all consuming pit of darkness.

The world around her grew small as she felt herself fade away. Chest tightening and heart palpitating quickly.

She could hear her breathing become labored. Panic was setting in- her fear of dying reverberating through her body sometimes for no reason.

Naomi felt alone so very alone. Panic attacks tended to to make her feel isolated even when logically she was surrounded by people buzzing around her.

Gently, Naomi feels a soft hand placed on her shoulder. It was Natalia.

"You are okay, Nomi," her girlfriend comforts her.

Naomi can feel herself starting to drift back out of the pitch black chasm that is her mind. Her breathing becomes slower and slightly more rhythmic.

"I am here. You are not alone," Nat whispers into her left ear.

Those were the words she needed to hear to bring her back from the abyss. Naomi's breathing returned to normal, her heartbeat began to slow down. She was brought out of the darkness and into the bright pink light radiating from Nat toward her.

Exhausted Naomi flung back onto the sleek grey modernly designed couch into her Girlfriend's lap. She shut her eyelids closed.

Naomi drifted off to sleep understanding it was about time for the next step with Nat.

Natalia

Natalia walks into their wood floored living room. Light bouncing off the clouds onto whatever glaze makes the wood shiny. It was going to be a gloomy day in the city. That mean that she would have to keep an extra special eye on Nomi today.

She scans the room looking to see if Nomi was panicking anywhere. Empty. The room is empty seems like all is well for now.

Natalia decides to kick and relax in front of their apartments grand window revealing the city's large grey looming skyline. Laying back onto the back of the couch, her ears perk up hearing some slight rummaging in the fridge. That must be Nomi.

Natalia gets up and walks to the entry way of their apartments open concept kitchen. She spots the straight and long black hair laying on the back of her Girlfriend.

Nomi turns around dark brown eyes staring into her baby blues while her warm cherry red lips contrasting against her pale skin into a smile.

"Someone is happy to see me," Natalia's husky voice slightly flirts with her girlfriend.

"Good morning, my sweet Nat," Nomi's syrupy sweet voice sings.

"Morning to you, my snuggly bug," Natalia sings back at a lower octave.

Nomi leaves me and heads back to the fridge to scrummage something to eat for breakfast.

"Damn, we are out of food," Nomi days exclaims turning from the fridge door," Want me to go buy some bagels and coffee?"

"Sure," Natalia says absentmindedly.

Nomi walks out of the kitchen and Natalia follows her through the apartment. Reaching the hallway, Nomi grabs her jacket, an umbrella, and house keys. Natalia watches her girlfriend about to say Goodbye and leave through the closed apartment door.

Natalia suddenly remembers to be careful," Hey wait, Nomi, do you think it is such a good day to be going out of the house?"

Natalia moves her body towards the window. Nomi sees the same thing, a gloomy sky and immediately says "Oh," at her absent mindedness.

Before Natalia can retort her girlfriend, Nomi basically hops, skips, and jumps to out of the apartment door.

She immediately becomes worried and springs into action. Grabbing socks and shoes while also grabbing a keys and a hoodie.

Natalia practically runs out the door into the hallway and to the elevator. In the elevator, Natalia presses the button to descend to the lobby of the building.

All while, silently praying that the elevator would move faster, wishing she lived on any other floor than the one right under the penthouse.

Natalia also grew impatient whispering," C'mon," to herself or the elevator when someone would get off one floor or join them at another.

The silver elevator doors opened to a mostly filled lobby, Natalia walked at a brisk pace toward the front window pane.

Outside Nomi is walking from the bagel shop into the coffee shop next door. Natalia assumes that Nomi has felt calm up until now. Nomi enters the coffee shop doors.

Natalia knows she can watch Nomi order coffee from the hotel lobby; but that does not sit right inside her. Quickly, she swings on her hoodie- hood included, out the door, Natalia crosses the damp streets and moves swiftly through the coffee shop doors.

Nomi is standing in line waiting to order staring at her phone intently. Natalia slips into a seat at a table close to the door.

Nomi walks to the front of the line and talks to a cashier at the counter about our usual order. Everything seems to be going okay according to Natalia's sensibilities. Perhaps, if everything is going okay now, maybe Natalia would not have to worry about Nomi.

Natalia sees Nomi move from the counter to the waiting area where the barista will place our drinks. She allows herself to get lost in the warm atmosphere, the smell of the coffee, and the nice lull of jazz music. Natalia's gaze begins to narrow and wander aimlessly.

She is suddenly awaken from her momentary slumber when it seems as if Nomi is rushing by. Natalia's eyes trailed her movements to the back corner of the coffee shop. This is it, this is what she worried about a panic attack in a public.

Natalia stood up and pulled off her black hood. She walked to the counter where the barista was setting down Nomi's order," I'll take that. Thank you."

Natalia held a cardboard cup holder with two drinks in it as she waked to the back corner where Nomi was now almost hyperventilating. Natalia sits down next to her and places a hand gently on Nomi's shoulder.

Natalia whispers into Nomi's ear like normal," You are okay, Nomi."

She observes as her girlfriend registers her presence. Her breathing becomes less erratic and her facial features loosen slightly.

"You are not alone, I am here," Natalia whispers the final words and then starts her wait to when Nomi is willing to talk again.

Naomi lays her head on my shoulder indicating she has returned. Natalia sighs in relief.

Nomi lifts her head and neck to face Natalia," You came."

"I did. I will always come no matter what just make sure you are okay," Natalia announces.

"I love you," Nomi proclaims as she gently lays her head back onto Natalia's shoulder.

Natalia smiles and cannot help but say back," I love you too."

She leans back into the wall to enjoy their time together with her beloved Naomi. In her peripheral, she sees a bagel come to view as Nomi holds it up to eye level. Natalia laughs.

"They always say the best way to a woman's heart is food," she remarks.