Breathe

You wish to be calm, but your palms are sweating, and it takes all your concentration to keep breathing-

In,

Out,

In,

Out,

Why? Why do you feel so queasy? Why is your head swimming? Why is it getting harder for your shaky legs to keep you standing?

Why are you silent? You wish you could talk, but there's this lump in the back of your throat, and you doubt you would have been able to bring yourself to speak, anyway.

And how can they just keep walking? All around you, not even glancing up as they walk past. How do they not hear the loud beating of your heart?

How do they not-

How-

In,

Out,

You move, somehow, shaky and sweaty and cold, to the closest bathroom. You lock the door, and sit on the pleasantly cool, disgusting floor, and lean against the wall.

The sounds are muffled now, and the room smells more like cleaning products than any bathroom should, so much better than the world behind the door.

Somehow you don't throw up, and close your eyes,

Lean your head back.

In,

Out...