Page 76 of Rebellion

A panic attack.

No, no, no.

Get yourself under control.

“Sofia! Sofia, answer me.”

Shit. The irritation and urgency in his voice told her that he might have been speaking for a while without her answering.

“W-what . . . is . . . it?” she asked through her pants.

“Fuck. Baby, just hang on. I’m coming in.”

She didn’t have the energy to tell him to leave.

Besides, she thought she might just need some help.

The glass door was pulled open, but she kept her gaze down. The last thing she wanted to see was pity.

Or indifference.

Or . . . horror.

God. A sob escaped as she covered her face with her hands as best as she could, still trying desperately to catch her breath.

“Fuck. Baby, I’m going to get you out of there.”

The water turned off.

A relief in some ways. Now that it was quieter, she could breathe a bit easier. She hadn’t realized the noise had been adding to her issues.

“Easy, baby. You’re going to be fine. I’m here. I’m going to take care of you.”

But he shouldn’t have to.

“S-sorry,” she managed to get out as he wrapped a towel around her.

“Fuck, you’ve burned yourself.”

She managed to look up at him briefly and saw the way he was staring at her skin in horror.

“Not... burns.” Shamed filled her as he continued to stare.

She felt like a sideshow at the circus.

And her breathing grew more rapid again.

Fuck.

“Hey, hey, baby. Look at me.”

Sofia shook her head. She couldn’t. She couldn’t bear to see the way he was staring at her now.

“I d-don’t want your p-pity,” she managed to say.

“Pity? Why would I pity you?”

“Because... I’m... pathetic!” The words were spat out, filled with self-loathing. Would he agree with her?

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