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“No. I’m okay. Breathe.” I closed my eyes and ordered my heart to calm down. I’d use up my allotted heartbeats for my lifetime in the next ten minutes if it didn’t slow down.
I squared my shoulders and turned to fully face the hallway, the obstacle keeping me from my goal. I needed to kick its ass right now. The air was still, and there wasn’t a sound to be heard. The twenty floors of hotel excitement below me would be quiet this time of night.
This was my dad’s hotel and it catered to business people, and they were focused, hardworking, and mostly quiet this time of the night.
I should know, I’d watched from afar for years.
“Angelina?” Jenna’s voice streamed over my earbud.
“I’m good,” I said. “I’m good.” I’m safe. No men are hiding in the shadows.
I took another step, staying focused on the elevator door. Another turned into five more. Only seven feet left. I passed the neighbor’s closed door. I’d heard some moving around beside me this past week as new people had moved in, but it’d been quiet for a while now.
On my phone I tapped home and then the video app. I scrolled through the screens confirming all was quiet on each floor of the hotel. The elevators weren’t moving, and people would need a VIP pass to get to this top floor.
This was my chance. I was going to make it all the way to the lobby. If I made it, I could tap that bag of candy corn Mom had sent me. I’d been holding onto it for two weeks as I prepped for this adventure.
Slowly, I made it to the elevator. The down arrow on the panel between the elevator door and the wall called me like a beacon.Just press the button.
One step at a time, right?
I punched the arrow with a shaky finger. Nothing caved in on me. I didn’t get electrocuted. The walls stayed where they were—they didn’t even slant. I checked my breathing, and it was fine—a little breathless, but nothing close to hyperventilating.
Sweet. Empowerment stormed through me. Electrified my veins, giving me power, energy.
“I’m so proud of you,” Jenna said.
The crank of the elevator grinding its way up here sent a round of nerves through my chest and nearly sent me running back to my apartment. Instead, I fisted my hands.
Timebomb, Trouble, Stupid Girls.
The doors silently rolled open. Nothing creaked at this five-star hotel. Nothing but the best here. Well, except me. I was broken and creaky.
I shook my head, tossing those negative thoughts to the carpet. I leaned forward, looking inside the box. Dang, it was small.
But not as small as the last time I’d stepped into it. See, things were getting better. I totally could do this.
The mirrored walls mocked me, showing my tattered reflection. Yoga pants, long sleeved shirt and running shoes. Yeah, my hair was flying in all directions like Medusa’s snakes, but heck, I didn’t have anyone to impress.
At this rate, I probably never would, considering I was having so much trouble leaving my place.
One more step.
The checkered carpet matched what I was standing on. Only one little gap separated the two surfaces.
My heart started hammering. The world started tilting. I—
No! It was time to make agoraphobia my bitch!
I jumped into the cab. It swayed a little, and I closed my eyes.Sober. Try. Just Give Me A Reason.
I put my arms out to balance, not that it was swaying so much, but it helped stabilize me. Knees bent, I glanced around the dim elevator box. Soft music piped in, but it was the dreaded jazz. I hated jazz. It was sooo…depressing.
“Great job, Angelina. How are you feeling?”
“Scared. Freaked out. Empowered. Angry. Happy.”
“That’s quite a mix. Good job. Focus on the one emotion that will get you to the next step.”
