Page 64 of Imbalanced Minds

I’m safe, I think to myself.

Cory’s here.

He saved me.

“Shh… Iris, it’s going to be okay. He can’t hurt you anymore. It’s over.”

I try to stop my tremors, but can’t. I’m too depleted to stop and it’s too surreal to be over.

“Tucker, can you give us a minute. Please. I need to calm my girlfriend and your big ass is freaking her out.”

“Yeah, whatever, Ace. I’ll be outside. Get her to calm down quickly though, or Moose will have my head if he knows I upset her. Even if it was only her natural reaction.”

I’m at a crossroad with my body and my brain. My body is telling me to relax in these warm arms, but my brain is short circuiting with all the flashbacks, pain and emotions I can’t seem to control.

As Cory holds me tight, my body starts to shake even more than before. My crying increases as ugly sobs escape my lips, while all I want is to will it to stop.

“Iris, you need to calm down for me. Can you try, sweetheart?”

Hearing the grief in his voice I try my hardest to focus on my breathing, matching it with his—something he taught me the last time I had an anxiety attack. It takes time and all the strength I have, but I need answers, and if I let this get to me, I’m not going to get what I need.

Whispering softly, scared that the big scary man will hear me and come back, I ask Cory what happened after the phone went dead.

“Shh, baby girl. We’ll explain it all to you in due time. For now, you need to rest, drink plenty of water and let these guys look after you. We’re in a safe place, Angel. I promise.”

Trusting his words, I snuggle into him and do as I’m told; for once.