Unshackled

Anxiety

Asiyah's POV.

I can't really escape this place. That's the real truth that I have accepted now however I can try something else's
So why not see if it actually works?

The first thing I should do is get to know everyone around. Build trust and kinship. I'm only really familiar with the girls in my room and that's it. I have to try to be nicer, I usually am but it's just hard to be when you're forcefully held in a place you don't want to be in.

I walked around the mansion looking at the pictures hanging on the walls. This place is nothing less than a museum. My foot is healed and I can finally walk properly without any pain. I'm actually surprised, I was sure it would take a full week but halfway through and it's healed. Alhamdullilah.

The girls went for training again so I'm all alone. I decided to skip as I was given a full week of rest so it actually counts. I reached the living room and noticed a man sitting busily on his phone. Is that...Abay? The guy who trained us on our first day. I should join him.

"Hey," I sat on the couch across from him.

"Aren't you supposed to train?" he asked.

"I got hurt" I said showing him my foot that still had a bandage on. I kept it on just in case anyone doubted me.

"Oh, hope you get better," he said.

"Thanks, I'm Asiyah by the way," I said.

"Abay," I knew that.

"You train us sometimes too, right?" I asked.

"Right,"

"I noticed you zone out a lot and you don't look comfortable most of the time, is something bothering you?" I didn't think he'd even care to notice.

"It just doesn't feel right" I said.

"No need to worry, and you girls will meet your families next week," he said. Oh my Allah! Are we really going to meet them?

"How old are you?" I asked.

"26," why did I think he was older?

"oh I see," I heard him chuckle.

"Do I look older to you?" He asked.

"A little bit" I said awkwardly laughing.

"It's okay I get that a lot...Since you seem to be bored do you want me to show you some places around?" He suggested.

I nodded in agreement immediately. I just realized I haven't smiled in so long. We got up and I followed him out of the living room. He showed me rooms I had no idea existed in the mansion.

There's a playroom for the boys and even a bar. There's also a soundproof room where they practice indoor gun shootings. There's an underground parking lot with only designer cars which costs a fortune. And not to forget the hall for parties and big events. My jaw remained wide open during the tour.

As we kept walking, we encountered the same guy who had brought me a wheelchair.

"We need your help, your friend is not feeling well," he said trying to catch his breath. Maryam?!

Without hesitation, I followed him to where she was and Abay followed. As we made it to the terrace again, I found her indeed not looking good. An anxiety attack. She's having it again. I ran to her and bent down to her trying to take a good look at her.

"Maryam look at me" I said.

"breathe—In and out" I said.

"Look around you everything is in place—I'm here, you're here...we're all here to help you, take deep breaths" I said taking breaths with her.