"...Mom broke her promise. She's not coming."
Her brows furrowed. Oh she would definitely give Elaine an earful later! How could she abandon her own child when he needed her the most?
"Oh Damien..."
"Rhea, I don't think I can do this alone."
Rhea all but inhaled a deep breath as he spoke the next words.
"...You're my friend, right? I've never asked something so selfish before but for the first time, I wish you could be here for my performance. I can't do this alone...without you."
His voice was shaky and in so much despair. Such a small boy shouldn't have to go through a performance without his familial support there cheering him on. That struck a chord in Rhea's gut. It was true. Damien was a good boy and rarely asked for anything. Hearing him plead to her really stung because deep down, she knew she was a horrible aunt who couldn't give in return when Damien was always helping her out.
"D-Damien, you know about my condition and the panic attacks..."
She heard his little sigh. "...I know. Oh forget I said anything! I'll be good. I know you can't come out...Sorry, I didn't mean to demand a request from you like that..."
"Don't be sorry," she trailed off and frowned.
Hanging up on him left her feeling dejected.
Moments ticked by and suddenly, she realized she was no different than Elaine. Worse, even. Because, Rhea had the chance to be there for him. It was a matter of choice. But she knew that choice was nearly impossible. Her gut felt pained. If it was Damien, she knew he'd do anything to console her in a time of need.
There was no way she could step outside now. When was the last time she had stepped out? Right. That was months ago when her editor Sasha dragged her out to meet her content managers to go over details of book cover art, more contracts, and whatnot.
In the end she pretty much had a panic attack during the ride there and back to her dreary safe haven of an apartment.
Rhea slapped her face with both hands. She stood from the couch. How could she live with her already pathetic self knowing she'd abandon him like her sister when he needed it the most? No matter what, she had to risk her own well being because Damien would do the same. He was already taking care of Rhea more than she deserved.
She had no choice but to do this!
It took everything in her to walk to that door and battle her inner demons. She's done this a few times before to confront the twins. The only difference was that her intention was to step outside. Her heart began to squeeze, as she clutched it in utter and complete anxiety. Slowly but surely, Rhea opened the door and left her safe haven. The hallway felt way longer and narrower than usual to reach the stairs. She swore she was hyperventilating by the time she reached it.
One step…
She took another and kept her eyes slightly open, trying not to tumble down to her death. It was so agonizing. And then, it happened just as she reached the stairs.
Aching sharp memories of her past began to haunt her. She held her head as she imagined her form turn into an ant. Like she was a small creature and the whole world was against her, similar to her classmates. Her body began to trickle with sweat all over.
She could hear them whispering about her, "That's the girl with the weak heart."
"Oh, must be tough being hospitalized and then coming in the middle of the school year."
But most of all, when Rhea ventured too deep outside, her memories always flashed to the most horrific memory of all. The time when all of her classmates circled around her. They closed in on her like tall dark shadows with glowing eyes, ready to devour her entire being. All she could do was take shaky breaths and do her best to steady herself as her heart began to constrict painfully.
Not again. She couldn't breathe!
Someone's hand touched her shoulder. Rhea looked up into his eyes and shrieked away from such warmth.
"Mysterious neighbor girl...You okay?" Aziel asked, concern clearly laced in his voice.
"D-Don't touch me!" she squealed.
Aziel clearly pulled his hand back in frustration. Zeven was beside him as they were climbing up the stairs, watching as she held onto the railings for dear life. He slightly pulled Aziel back so there was more distance between them.
"You're sweating an awful lot...Is there something we can do for you...?" Zeven had to exchange looks with Aziel as if they were dealing with a wounded creature.
Something inside of her cracked. Rhea hugged herself, as if to protect herself from everything that made it hard for her to breathe. And at last she really panned between the both of their eyes, pleading with utmost shame because they were the last people she wanted to depend on right now.
"...My nephew...Need to make it there...Help me please..."
Her tears just fell down like a bucket of waterfall unleashing a steady stream. It was so much for her that she couldn't stop the tears from coming down. She hated that she was so dramatic to the point of being unable to step outside simply to enjoy her nephew's concert. She hated that she was losing to her demons. Most of all, she hated that she was relying on her wretched sex crazed neighbors.
Suddenly, her hand felt skittishly warm. Her tears stopped in surprise as she looked down to see that Zeven had lightly gripped her hand into his.
"Speak slowly."
And then Aziel reached forward and began to wipe away the ugly tears dripping down her face. "It's alright now. We can help but we need you to speak slow and clear...Is this about the little tiger guy I met the other day?"
Rhea could only weakly nod. The very moment she was being consoled through her hands and face by the so called wretched sex crazed neighbors she was supposed to detest, the universe began to slowly change around her.