Page 28 of Fractured Hope
I’M COMING FOR YOU AND YOU’RE GOING TO BE SORRY.
The last one had bile rising in my throat. It was sent only a few days ago.
SEE YOU SOON.
I swallowed back bile as my breaths came short and quick.
How did he find me?
Is he already here?
What should I do?
I need to run.
The edges of my vision darkened and were getting blurry as I struggled to breathe.
“Whoa, hey now,” a soft voice said, but I was too caught up in my panic to register who it was. Something touched my arm, and I flinched away, falling off my office chair and onto the floor in a heap. I shifted back as far and as quickly as I could until I hit something hard, and I shrank in on myself. I couldn’t focus on anything but the panic.
“Breathe with me. Deep breaths,” the soft voice said. “Deep breath in, then out. You’re okay, Bodhi.”
I managed to take a breath.
“That’s it. Now again.”
I sensed a presence in front of me as I took another deep breath.
“Can I take your hand, Bodhi?”
I nodded and my hand was placed on a solid chest as it rose and fell with each breath.
“That’s it, breathe with me. You’re okay.”
My vision slowly began to clear as my breathing regulated. Kay was sitting in front of me on the office floor. He’d been the reassuring presence coaching me through my panic attack.
“You’re okay, just a few more deep breaths.” Kay caught my gaze and held my stare. “That’s it. In one, two, three, hold. Out, one, two, three,” he added calmly.
I breathed deeply until my heart rate returned to normal, then looked around as Kay let my hand go. I was on the floor next to my desk with my back against the wall. Kay sat cross-legged in front of me.
Kay sent me a gentle smile. “Are you okay?”
“I think so,” I said, feeling embarrassed. My face was too hot, and I was clammy and queasy. “Thank you.”
“It wasn’t any trouble. Are you sure you’re okay?” He hesitated. “Let me grab you some water.” With a tiny grin, he got up and left the room.
I slowly stretched out my stiff legs as I took stock of my body. All my muscles ached and sweat dripped down my hairline as I reached up to wipe my face. Kay came back and offered me a cold bottle of water.
“Thanks.”
“No problem, just make sure you take small sips.”
I did as Kay had instructed while he sat on the floor, only he was next to me this time.
“What are you doing here? How did you know how to handle that? Not that I’m not grateful.”
“I have panic attacks. It got really bad in my late teens. All the Papadakises were taught how to coach a person through a panic attack. You’re in good hands with this bunch. Most of us are equipped to handle an emergency between my panic attacks and all the daredevil stunts Lyric got up to. We’ve all had to learn. I’m glad I was able to help. I actually came in looking for Lyric—” He shrugged. “—but he’s not here.”
“Yeah, he said he had a headache and went home early.”
