Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
I woke with a start. Cold sweat was pouring down my forehead. Who were those people? And how did they know who I was...? I sat up and leaned over to my nightstand to grab my water bottle only to find it wasn't there. I sighed in frustration. God how could I forget to bring a water bottle to bed?!
I slipped on my slides and walked downstairs in the dark, not wanting to turn the lights on. I opened the top cabinet and grabbed a mug, walked over to the fridge to fill it up. I pushed the button and placed the mug underneath the pipe. I waited. I yawned tiredly. 
I looked over to the microwave and read the time. 12:33 am. Ugh! I definitely won't be getting any sleep. 
I yawned again as I pulled the mug away from the water pipe. I brought it to my mouth and drank the water, feeling the cool water run down my parched throat. "Ahhh..." I sighed, satisfied.
I suddenly started crying. God I was sick of my weakness! But I couldn't help it.
I felt my lungs collapse and suddenly I couldn't breath. I put the mug down on the counter and sunk to the floor, grabbing my hair and breathing in hard. No air was going in.
I'm going to die this way. I'm dying. And I didn't have time to confess my feelings to Quince...
Quince! Oh my god! I grabbed my phone and clicked on her contact, dialing her number. I still tried to breathe but it started getting harder, waves of fear rolling over me.
On the phone:
Q: "Hello?"
Me: Q-Quince?
Q: "Zaire? What are you doing up at this time?"
Me: "Q-Quince! I can't breathe!"
Q: "oh my god! Do you want me to call an ambulance or something?!"
Me: "I- no... just talk to me... your voice helps me...
Q: "I heard this trick when people are having heart attacks... I think that's what you're having Zaire... so can you follow my instructions please?"
Me: "O-Ok..."
Q: "Could you name 5 things you see?"
Me: "The couch... my hands... my floor... the table... and the chandler..."
Q: "Your doing great... now can you name 4 things you feel?"
Me: "umm... my hands... the phone... the floor... the door I'm leaning on...
Q: "Mhm! Now name 3 things you can smell."
Me: "... the lotion on my hands... the air freshener on my clothes... the flowers...
Q: "Now 2 things you can hear..."
Me: "The crickets outside... and the owls..."
Q: "Lastly can you name one thing you taste?"
Me: "T-The water..."
Q: "Did that help..?"
Me: "Ya... a little... thanks Quin...
Q: "Anytime Zai..."
Me: "I think we should go to bed now..."
Q: "Huh? Oh um ya... goodnight..."
Me: "Goodnight..."
*hangs up*
I sit there for a few minutes calming my breathing, before getting up and heading back to bed.
I lay there for a few minutes as I think of everything that happened today. Gosh... it felt like a few days ago I got the news but it has only been less than 12 hours...
I sigh as I close my eyes, slowly drifting off into s peaceful sleep...