𝐈𝐌 𝐎𝐊𝐀𝐘 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐎𝐊𝐀𝐘

*𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝*

                         ༄Ashers POV༄

Annie obviously didn't know that I had panic attacks. It started when my dad got abusive, I was only ten.

This was something I had to wait to tell Annie, I know she just poured her heart and soul out to me and she deserved to know, but I'm not ready.

After doing some breathing exercises, I finally calmed down. "Asher, what was that?" She asked concerned. "It was a panic attack, I've been having them since I was ten" I said with an ashamed expression.

I got up and walked over to my suitcase, to put a t-shirt on because I was wearing a sweater, and I usually get sweaty after a panic attack.

I pulled up my sweater and threw it into my suitcase and began looking through my suitcase for a t-shirt. "Hey Asher, what's that huge bruise on your stomach from?" Annie asked.

I quickly grabbed a shirt and slipped it on. "It's just from football" I lied. "Asher, I'm not an idiot" she said reading right through me.

"Asher I know what's going on" she says taking me by surprise. "Asher, I haven't spoken to anyone in seven years, I'm good at observations. "Is there something going on at home?"

She knew everything, I can't blame her. Without talking you need to observe. I just looked down at my feet. Ashamed.
I nodded my head and sat down on the bed.

Annie walked over to me and sat right beside me. "You don't have to tell me what's going on," she said truthfully.

"My dad hits me sometimes" I blurted out. Annie sat there silently for a second before she hugged me. "Oh Asher, I-I'm so sorry" she says into my neck. "Do you have any other bruises?" She asked concerned. I took off my shirt again and stood up  to let her observe the other welts and bruises.

She stood up and and looked specifically at the one on my stomach. She put her warm hand on it and traced her finger around it. It made me tense up a bit cause the bruise was so fresh, but she was gentle.

She's so adorable, I thought to myself. her cute little rosie cheeks, and her little button nose. Why am I thinking about this. She probably just thinks I'm a player. Why do I care what she thinks of me?

"Asher is there anything I can do to help? it scares me to think that your own father is capable of doing this" she said with a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Are you still feeling sick?" I said putting my hand on her forehead, checking to see if she has a fever. "Annie your burning hot, you need to lay down." I exclaim helping her up, she was faint, her face was pale. I picked her up and laid her down onto the bed.

Her eyes closed and she slept peacefully, I was tired too, so I just crawled in next to her and fell asleep too.

Annie rolled over and snuggled her face into my arm. She must be freezing, she's only wearing shorts and a sweater. I could feel her shivering. She did have a fever. "Annie?" I asked. "Mhm?" she hummed. "Did you bring a bathing suit?" I asked. "Yeah, why?" She asked.

"Put it on and I can run you a bath to try to get your fever down, you looked really faint before so it would be unsafe if I left you there by yourself." I said truthfully.
She nodded her head and slowly got up to walk to her suitcase.

She opened her suitcase and began searching for her bathing suit. She found it and walked into the bathroom to get changed. She came out wearing a one piece bathing suit.

"You lay there, and I'll go turn on the bath okay ?" She nodded and did as I said. I turned the bath onto the coldest setting so her fever would go away.

I came back into the room to help Annie get to the bathroom without falling. "Come here" I say as she stood up. Her limped body flopped into my arms. I could see the goosebumps on her skin.

Annie went to get in the tub, she put one leg in after another and slowly sat down, cringing at the cold. She rested her head on the edge of the bath and took some deep breaths.

After a few minutes of being in the freezing cold bath, Annie's fever finally subsided. "Okay are you ready to get out?" I asked. She nodded rapidly and stood up. I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her. Her lips were blue but at least her fever was gone.

Annie got out and I let her get changed. She walked back into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Asher?" She asked. "Yeah" I responded. "How often do you have panic attacks?" She asked honestly. "Once a day" I said.

"Is there anyway you can live with your grandparents or something?" She asked. "They live all the way in Florida" I said in response. "Is there anywhere else you could live" she said really wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"No" I said feeling sad. "Then come stay with me" she demanded. "Annie I couldn't do that to you or your family" she sighed at my response. "You deserve a family that loves you." She said walking back to the bed.

"Just think about it" she says before covering her face with the blankets and closing her eyes. She was a precious soul, I would ruin her. I would only do harm. I need to stop catching feelings for people who are to good for me.