The Perfect Witness

Monday Mornings

Imagine you're constantly wading in a never-ending expanse of dark, deep water.

To stay afloat, you need to keep moving, keep kicking, no matter how tired you are, no matter how bad your legs hurt.

On a good day, you stay afloat, but just barely, and on the bad days...the bad days, you feel like you're drowning.

You thrash in the icy cold darkness as water slinks its way down your dry throat, burning your mouth like acid as it goes. Your chest burns as you continue to flail in the never-ending abyss of pain and fear.

Eventually, the burning sensation spreads up behind your eyes, and your entire body feels as though it's engulfed in the flames of Hell.

Just as you feel your last breath begin to slip away from your lips, your pulled up out of the water, gasping and coughing for your life.

For me...that was the daily struggle I went through as I tried to pry my exhausted body from my couch.

It was a never-ending cycle of waking up with panic and anxiety already wrapping their evil little talons around my brain.

Much like every morning, I woke up with an intense feeling of anxiety settling low in my chest.

Needing the comforts of my boyfriend, I quickly rolled onto my back and snuggled into Vincent's warm chest.

The faint smell of his leftover, woodsy cologne tickled my nose as I breathed in, trying to release all the pent-up tension in my joints and muscles.

In response, my boyfriend softly nuzzled his head into the top of mine as my eyes slowly made their way open. As Vincent pulled me closer to him, I felt the couch mold against our bodies as we shifted our weight.

Leisurely, he sat up, pulling me along with him so that my back was to his bare chest. He wrapped his burly arms around me and gently rested his chin on my shoulder, my body held tightly in his grasp.

Just as my brain started to calm itself from the onslaught of anxiety, my phone loudly buzzed, startling me.

Sleepily, I glanced over at the bright screen and saw a text from Caroline sprawled across the display.

Caroline: My mom said we can use the house!!!

Dylan: Hell yeah!

Lucas: How were we going to get there?

Masen: oky

Isaac: we still leaving Wednesday?

Caroline: Let's leave today so we can get more days at the beach!

Annalise: sooooo let's meet at my house after 1?

Zoe: Today? Girl, that's too soon!

Masen: Agreed...we just came up with this plan yesterday!

Lucas: Mhm we're walking? Okay...

Annalise: Shut up Lucas, you dumbass did you already forget who you're driving with?

Jessy: I haven't even packed yet Annalise!!

Annalise: So go pack stupid, you have time!!

AJ: you bringing that butterfly knife of yours C?

Caroline: absolutely not AJ! We're going to the beach, not camping!

"I'm in the mood for cinnamon buns," Bella suddenly muttered as my eyes continued to scan the screen of my phone.

At the sound of her low and gruff voice, I hastily looked away from the group chat and jokingly asked, "Why were you always so hungry, Bella?"

"Cause a bitch has cravings, excuse me!" In response, she giggled that sing-song laugh that can brighten anyone's day.