Hourglass: A Tale of Anxiety Part 5

“Stop worrying about what can go wrong and get excited about what can go right.” — Tony Robbins.

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Rachelle

~~~

In the familiar darkness, I heard noises. People chatting, arguing, and loud sirens.

A stern voice ordered, "Clear!"

I feel a sharp, jolt-like pain in my chest, almost as if I were being electrocuted.

The voice repeats, "Clear!"

My chest burns like fire; a hard device pushes deep into my skin. Then there's an audible crack and white-hot pain.

I gasped, vomiting up water and bile, as I felt a warm, gloved hand touch my neck.

"We've got a pulse! Depart ASAP; monitor vitals; this is not a drill, people!" The voice ordered with a calm, authoritative presence.

Whoever that is, they're very cool and collected.

"No, leave her alone!!!" I heard Mommy shriek. "She committed a grave sin, she needs to live with her hellish choices!!!"

A sin? What's she talking about? I was taking a bath!

"Ma'am, you need to move; she needs immediate medical attention." The voice argues.

Two muscular, warm arms hooked under my armpits and hoisted me onto a hard plastic bed.

Is this a stretcher? Am I going to the hospital?

"Rachelle, suicide is a grave sin!" Mommy yelled in her signature holier-than-thou voice. "If you go with those men rather than repent, I will disown you!"

My eyes popped open, taken aback by her ridiculous threat. After blinking a few times, I look at her and wheeze, "Goodbye, Mommy, have the life you deserve."

She storms out of the bathroom, knocking objects over as she leaves. Screaming, "How dare you! You petulant, selfish child!"

A comforting hand touched my bare shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about her. She's freaking crazy."

I look up and see the hottest guy I've ever seen in my life.

He's six feet tall, wearing an EMT uniform that barely fits because of his muscular body, short, wavy dark brown hair, and his dark brown eyes sparkle with excitement and sincerity at the same time.

"Y-yeah," I croaked, swallowing harshly. "She is."

He flashes me a megawatt smile as he wraps me up in several thick blankets, then buckles me securely to the bed.

With pride, he declares, "There, all safe."

Yeah, I agreed within my mind; I am safe.

~~~

According to the doctor at the hospital, while I was bathing, I had a heart attack.

Me, the healthy thirty-three-year-old, who's never had any heart issues!

The doctor told me that my adrenaline levels spiked from my mugging incident, and because my body is constantly in an anxious state, it never stopped rising, causing my heart to crash.

Evidently, the bath released just enough tension to cause it all.

Wow, my obsessive routine and restrictive lifestyle almost killed me.

The irony is baffling.

But not everything about this incident was bad.

During my 48-hour observation stay, I didn't hear a single peep from Mommy.

I guess she made good on her promise to disown me.

Oh well, good riddance. She was two pancakes shy of a stack, anyway.

And I met a guy. Well, technically, he saved my life.

You know that hot EMT guy? Turns out his name is Caleb; he's my age, on the Autism Spectrum, and thinks I'm beautiful.

He visited me twice during my stay, then left me his phone number for when I got discharged.

There are a lot of unknowns in my life now, especially since I have to give up my routine and work on 'healthy coping habits'.

I have something to look forward to. The company of a wonderful man, who's just as awkward as I am.

Today, I'm calling him. What will I do tomorrow?

Who knows? Maybe he'll be my first kiss or first night?

Or maybe none of that matters as long as I'm happy.

Thank you for listening. I deeply appreciate it.

~~~

The End

~~~

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, and incidents are fictitious and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, organizations, or events are entirely coincidental.

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