Chapter Twenty-Seven – Breathless Yn had been holding it together all day — or at least pretending to. She’d faced the cafeteria, ripped down the paper, and walked away without letting them see her break. That should have been enough. But by the last bell, the cracks were showing. She was halfway down the crowded hallway when the noise became too much — the chatter, the laughter, the slamming lockers. It all blurred into a deafening roar. Her chest tightened, her vision tunneled, and suddenly she couldn’t get enough air. Not here. Not in front of them. She pushed through the crowd, stumbling into the nearest bathroom. The fluorescent lights felt harsh, the air too thin. She gripped the sink, staring at her reflection, but her face looked strange — pale, distant, like she wasn’t even there. Her breaths came fast and shallow. Her fingers tingled. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. Flashes hit her in quick bursts — her dad’s smile, the cruel words on the paper, Lila’s smirk, the sound of everyone laughing. They tangled together until she couldn’t separate past from present. Her hoodie felt suffocating. The walls felt like they were closing in. She slid down to the floor, curling her knees to her chest, trying to force her lungs to work. But the harder she tried, the worse it got. The door opened. “Yn?” Freya’s voice cut through the noise. She dropped to her knees beside her, eyes wide but steady. “You’re having a panic attack. Look at me. Just focus on my voice.” Yn’s breaths hitched, but she tried. “In… two… three… out… two… three…” Freya’s tone was calm, rhythmic. “You’re safe. You’re here. Nothing’s going to hurt you right now.” It felt like forever, but slowly, the air started to come easier. The pounding in her chest eased, the spinning slowed. Freya didn’t let go of her hand. “You don’t have to keep all of this inside. Not with me.” Yn didn’t answer. She just stared at the floor, still trembling, realizing that no matter how much she tried to act untouchable… the weight she carried was still crushing her from the inside.
