Page 6 of After All This Time

Bella sits on the floor next to me, wrapping her arm around me. “Dani, I talked to your mom. She told me to remind you to breathe.” She scoots in front of me. “But I think we should head to the hospital.”

When anxiety takes over my mind and body, I forget how to function like a normal human being. Bella knows how I get when I have a panic attack.

I can’t focus on my surroundings. My hands shake. My lips get dry. My mind loves to focus on the bad instead of the good.

I’m grateful she’s always there for me when this happens. She knows how to calm me down by permeating her warmth through me.

I violently shake my head. “I c-can’t.”

“There is no can’t, only can.”

“You sound like Yoda,” I breathe out.

This isn’t the time for jokes.

“Shut up and start packing,” she insists.

She helps me up off the floor as we both assess the damage I caused.

I frown. “What about the mess I made?”

“I’ll clean it up while you pack.”

“I love you.” I hug her tightly for a brief moment before releasing her.

She looks at me and smiles. “I know.”

Rushing into my bedroom, I grab some clothes, shoes, and a few books, basically anything I can put in my suitcase. I’m stuffing everything in there at supersonic speed. I have no idea how long I’m going to be staying.

I put on a teal tank top that flares at the bottom and cotton gray shorts followed by a pair of Skechers because comfort is vital.

Once Bella is done cleaning up my mess, I see her walk into her bedroom through the crack of my door.

Like The Flash, she comes out of her room with her phone in her hand and her purse over her shoulder.

She’s wearing a pink tank top with denim shorts that have small rips on the right side and her high-top white Converse.

I wish I could rock the color pink, but I’ll settle with Bella rocking it for me.

Dragging out my giant suitcase, I roll it into the living room area of our apartment and take a deep breath.

It’s going to be okay. It’s all going to be okay. It has to be. It needs to be.

My body doesn’t feel as heavy as it was, and I don’t hear my heart beating as loud as it was before.

“Are you ready to go?” Bella asks as she walks towards me.

“I just need to get my bag.” Grabbing it from one of the nearby chairs, I sling it over my chest.

I do a mental checklist.

Phone. Check. Chargers. Check. Wireless earbuds. Check. Wallet. Keys. Suitcase. Check. Check. Check.

I meet Bella’s gaze. “Okay, let’s go.”

She nods her head up and down, snatching my car keys out of my hand.

“Hey! What the hell?” My anger starts building.