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“I’m so sorry, Lincoln. I shouldn’t have spoken to you that way.”
He was hesitant but stepped back, giving me space to walk in. After looking at him, I realized his eyes were red, like he had been crying.
“Lincoln, I’m so sorry.”
I started internally freaking out. My chest was becoming tight. Lincoln realized immediately that something was wrong.
“How can I help?” he said nervously.
I couldn’t talk, so I took my phone out and called Brie. I handed Lincoln the phone. She must not have picked up on the first ring because he hung up and called again.
“She's having a panic attack. What do I do?” he blurted out. “No, I can’t wait for you to get dressed. Just tell me what to do.”
He was listening intently as he sat me down on the couch. He knelt down beside me.
“Okay, yeah, I got it.” He hung up and looked at me with fear in his eyes. I felt bad that I was scaring him so much.
“Aubrey, look around. What are five things you can see?”
I turned my head, taking in the room. “You, your T.V.,” I said, gasping for air. “Video games, papers…the door.”
“That’s great. Now try four things you can…” He looked down at the phone. “Touch or feel.”
I grabbed his hand as a silent thank you. “You, the couch,” I leaned forward to put my hand on the coffee table and took a breath. “The table and this paper.”
Speaking was definitely getting easier. My heart was warming that he was taking this so seriously.
“Great, good job.” He rubbed his hand down my back and looked at the phone again. I realized then that Brie must have texted him what to say when they hung up.
“Okay, three things you hear?”
My heart was calming down a little. “Your voice, the wind, and I don’t know, I don’t hear…anything else.”
“It's okay, close your eyes, try for me,” Lincoln said softly.
I closed my eyes, and Lincoln started humming. It made me smile. “You humming.” I opened my eyes and bit my bottom lip.
He smiled back. “Okay, now two things you smell.”
The door opened and I assumed it was Brie who walked in. He held his hand up to stop her. I didn't even look at her because I was staring at Lincoln.
“Your cologne and my perfume,” I said with a gulp.
His smile grew bigger. “Okay, we are almost done, last one. Name one thing you can taste.”
I took a deep breath before answering. I reached down and took a sip of the coffee he had on the table. “Coffee.”
He looked at me, noticeably less scared. He gently stroked his thumb over my cheek and jaw. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m sorry I scared you.” I took another deep breath.
“Aubs, you okay?” Brie said from behind us. I turned to look at her. “Yeah, thank you for helping him.”
She nodded, her eyes silently asking me if she should stay.
“You can go, thanks Bean.”
She nodded her head again and walked out the door. I looked back at Lincoln.
