Sensibility

Chapter 15

The cruel sensation climbs up my spine and into my ringing ears. My breath catches in my lungs and my body seems unable to carry out the simple task of breathing. As if sensing my presence, Zayn turns to catch my shocked face.

"Nicole," he says as his face furrows in worry? Anger? Disappointment?

"What is it?" I say before he can close the gap between us.

Before he can answer, I hear Tori give a stifled gasp. "Nikki, we have to help him," she says as a lump in her throat catches with her words.

Zayn reaches me and grasps my shoulders in a comforting motion. I don't catch his eyes knowing he's going to hold me back, so I swiftly pass him and move over to Tori. She's dropped to the graveled ground and hovers over a golden ball of fur. A whimper hits my ears as realization sets in. It's a golden retriever, dirty and mangled, no doubt struck by some driver on the hustling interstate. The canine shudders and struggles to keep its breath moving as the pain and sorrow seep into me.

"Nikki," Tori says looking up at me through watered eyes. "You can help him."

I shake my head quickly pulling my lips together to keep in the inevitable scream that's about to escape. I feel a hand on my back and fall into Zayn's hard chest. His arms pull me close, and I try to escape the horrifying sensations that run through me.

"Nikki," I hear Tori plead again. "I've seen your work and research papers. I know you know what to do. You have to help me."

I escape the comfort of Zayn to look back at Tori. "I'm not a veterinarian," I appeal.

"You don't need to be. We just need to set his leg so we can get him to the vet."

I swallow back the knob in my airways. Tori is looking at me with such hope and optimism. She believes I can do this. I nod slowly and push off of Zayn. "Um," I say shaking my head and regaining composure. "Get the first aid kit in the trunk."

Tori nods and climbs off the ground quickly to retrieve it. I slowly take her vacated spot before the shaking dog. Its pain is flowing harsher now rising up and wrapping me in chains. I open my mouth to breath and unwanted tears begin to fall.

"Nicole," Zayn says falling down across from me, his chocolate eyes concentrated on my movements. "You can do this."

I shake my head once more as more tears begin to tumble down my cheeks. "I, I can't," I say as the terror begins to overwhelm every sense I have. I must look like a lunatic losing it over a dying dog, but he doesn't know. He can't begin to understand the suffocation I'm trying to breathe through.

As the tears begin to blur my vision, I feel the familiar warm touch of Zayn on my arm. "Just," he starts sucking in his own deep breaths. "Maybe I can...hold on."

Then, he withdraws his arm and hovers over the golden fur. I wipe my eyes quickly as I catch Zayn lower his eyebrows and rest both of his hands on top of the dog. He takes two slow breaths before I see it.

The ruthless, red throbbing that was outpouring from the golden retriever retreats quickly. The static waves tumble around somewhat before resting back into a perfect bubble above the dog, and it's gone. The pain is gone.

I wipe my eyes again unsure of what I've just seen when Tori appears at my side. She falls down next to me and places the first aid kit in my lap. "Nikki," she says as my gaping mouth stares at Zayn. He's resting back now on his knees with his head down, not catching my gaze. "Do you need me to help, Nikki?" Tori speaks again.

I swallow back the excess saliva in my mouth and shake my head. "No," I answer wiping my face. "I can do this." Then, I open the kit and begin to work.