My Brother, The Dentist

Chapter 59-

I kept my eyes closed and focused thoroughly on the blissful keys of the piano music in my ears. The sound took me away to another place. A place of trust and relaxation. I felt my eyelids grow weary, my mind go somewhat numb. But then, I startled, my eyelids flashed open. Adam was in my line of sight. He'd been tapping my shoulder. He carefully took the headphones off my ears and held them in his grasp.

"I'm glad to see you're relaxed buddy, but I do need you to stay awake for me, okay? Your mouth keeps almost closing and I'm not using a mouth prop, so it's near impossible for me to keep having to make sure you don't close your mouth whilst I'm trying to glue on the brackets."

With the inside of my lips being stuffed with cotton gauzes to ensure my teeth stayed dry, I couldn't reply and apologise to Adam. So instead I nodded my head. He lightly smiled and placed the headphones back on my ears. After a few minutes of listening to the blissful keys once again, I finally entered the place of trust and relaxation for the second time. My breathing stayed controlled and Adam did a brilliant job at ensuring I could barely feel the pressure of him gluing on the brackets. After what seemed like absolutely no time at all, Adam gently tapped my shoulder again and took the headphones off my ears just like before. He raised the chair and snapped off his gloves.

I could finally talk now that the cotton was removed from my mouth.
"Are we finished?" I asked Adam, hopefully.

"Unfortunately not yet Billy, I've only glued the brackets on so far. We're just having a quick five minute break so I can nip to the loo."
Adam handed me a chart.
"In the mean time, you can be deciding which colour bands you'd like" he smiled. "Back in a moment."

I sighed and laid my head back in the chair. I touched one of my front teeth. It felt so odd to have metal on them once again. Plus, I knew there was only pain to come. Once the wires were locked in place, I knew for a fact my mouth would ache like before. I looked around the room. Sam. Where was Sam? Sam was gone! I'd forgotten that Sam was even supposed to be in the room! Why did he leave? I placed the headphones and Adam's phone on the chair and quickly headed out the room. The building was silent. I could hear no noise except the whistling of the wind outside and the clicking of the radiators. Where was everybody? Why was I alone? Panic arrived in my system, I tried to block it out.

"What's wrong Billy? Why do you look distressed?" I heard someone ask as they walked up behind me. I turned around to see Jasmine in my presence.

"I don't know where Sam is" I said hastily, still looking anxiously around the room. My breathing became frantic and I could no longer control it. I tried taking deep breaths in and out, but it didn't help. The worry of where Sam currently was and why he wasn't with me was too much, the thought wouldn't exit my mind.

Jasmine placed one hand on my shoulder. "Billy, take a breath, okay? Calm yourself down sweetheart."

I tried to calm myself down but I couldn't.

"Is everything okay?" Adam asked as he returned, walking up to Jasmine and I. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes, still unable to breathe properly. Sorrow filled his face.

"I think Billy is having a panic attack" Jasmine quickly told Adam, helplessly.

Adam didn't wait a second. He swiftly took Jasmine's place and she moved back, as she clearly had no idea on what to do. Adam bent down to my level and softly locked his eyes with mine.
"Billy, do you remember the counting method we did that one time? We're going to do that again, okay? I'm going to help you control your breathing. Are you ready? Follow me buddy. Breathe in for 1....2....3....4.... and out for 1....2....3....4.... in for 1....2....3....4.... and out for 1....2....3....4...."
Adam repeated this until my breathing was back to normal and I'd managed to calm down. He led me over to a chair and sat beside me, rubbing my back.