Page 104 of Meet Me at the Metro

“Now, Theo!”I pound on his back to convey my urgency.“Let me down, now!”

He immediately sets me to my feet and inspects me thoroughly. A flash of worry crosses his face.

I force my gaze away, ashamed. I don’t want him to see me like this, so frightened that my hands and legs are shaking fiercely.

“What’s wrong?”

I try to speak, but I can’t.

“Ellie, you alright?” Harvey asks.

I’m the farthest thing from alright, but I can’t find it in me to admit that out loud. My heart is racing inside my chest, and my breathing is growing labored and choppy. Tendrils of anxiety cloud my mind, consuming every thought running through my head. I peer across the street to see if he’s still standing there, watching…

But he’s gone, no longer lingering anywhere in sight. I can’t decipher whether I should feel comforted by that or downright terrified.

Theo takes a gentle step toward me. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“I—I’m f-fine,” I lie, forcing my unsteady legs to move toward the apartment.

“Nora,wait.”

I bolt past Evie, unable to spare her even a glance. I don’t know what I need right now, but I know I don’t want to be outside anymore.

I don’t want to be anywhere where John could see me.

My skin crawls at that thought alone.

I reach the entrance to our apartment and somehow manage to find the strength in my shaky fingers to enter the passcode into the keypad. I hurry inside and charge up the stairs, taking two at a time. I unlock and open the door swiftly, bolting toward my bedroom, seeking security.

Safety.

As soon as I reach my doorway, my legs turn weak. I press my back against my bedroom wall and slink onto the floor. My heart is beating so violently that I can hear it pounding in my ears.

I clench my eyes shut, trying to focus on calming myself down and deter my thoughts from the way his eyes were watching me—watching all of us.

A wave of nausea rolls through me as footsteps echo down the hallway.

“I’ve got her.”

My door clicks shut, and I feel someone approaching me. I know it’s Theo as soon as the warmth of his hand settles on my leg. I try concentrating on the place where our two bodies connect.

“You’re alright. Breathe.Just breathe and look at me, Nora.”He softly instructs, “Tell me three things you can see right now.”

I stare at him for a few seconds, unsure of what he’s getting at, but I feel so desperate for relief that I answer him. “Pillow,umm—Nightstand. Record player.”

“Now, three things you hear.”

“My heartbeat. Footsteps.” Everything grows quiet for a long beat, but I exhale a shaky, weighted breath and continue listening.“Your breathing.”

The corners of his lips twitch, and he gives me a reassuring nod. “Move three body parts.”

I nod my head, trusting him fully, and then wiggle my fingers and toes.

Just like that, my pulse begins to slow, and the tightness in my chest releases a little. There’s still a tremble in my hands, but it’s nothing compared to how badly it was just seconds ago.

Theo sits with me for several moments—not saying a word—and offers me his comforting presence while I slowly pull myself out of my fearful thoughts.

“I–I’m sorry,” I say weakly.

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