FIFTEEN

The duo sat cross-legged on the soft carpet, their eyes fixed on the TV screen as a movie played. The room was dimly lit, with only the glow of the TV casting an eerie blue light across the space. The sound of the movie was turned down low, barely audible over the crunching of chips as Abby and Lyra snacked in silence.

The comfortable sofa and armchair offered plenty of seating options, but Abby and Lyra had chosen to sit on the plush carpet, surrounded by a scattering of cushions and blankets. The air was filled with the faint scent of a vanilla-scented candle burning nearby, adding to the cozy atmosphere.

A faint aroma of popcorn and salted chips hung in the air, mingling with the soft hum of the air conditioning. The carpet was plush and comfortable, the perfect place to relax after a long day.

In the background, the muffled sounds of traffic could be heard, but they were distant and unobtrusive, adding to the sense of peace and tranquility.

As the movie progressed, Abby and Lyra shifted positions occasionally, but they remained engrossed in the story.

Occasionally, one of them would let out a soft gasp or chuckle at a particularly suspenseful or humorous moment in the film, but otherwise, the only sound in the room was the faint rustling of the chip bag and the crunching of the salty snacks.

As the movie played on, it showed a group of high school boys accosting a girl in a deserted alleyway, their faces twisted with aggression as they surrounded her.

The girl, who looked no older than 16, stood frozen in fear as the boys closed in on her. She was small and petite, and seemed helpless against the larger, stronger boys.

One of the boys stepped forward, his sneer filled with malice. "What's the matter, sweetie?" he taunted. "Cat got your tongue?"

The girl tried to speak, but her voice was barely above a whisper. "P-please," she begged. "Just let me go. I want to go home please."

The boy chuckled. "Aww, I'm so sorry, sweetheart," he said. "But we've got other plans for you…better plans than your tiny brain can imagine"

As the girl looked around in panic, the other boys closed in on her, their eyes filled with lust and violence.

As the scene in the movie played out, Lyra's discomfort grew more and more apparent. She shifted on the carpet, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her shirt. She grit her teeth.

As the boys in the movie taunted the girl, Lyra's breathing became shallow and rapid. Her face was contorted with a mixture of fear and anger,

She shifted on the carpet, feeling increasingly uncomfortable as memories of her own high school days flooded back.

She had been a victim of bullying herself, and the scene on the screen was all too familiar to her. The way the boys were taunting and surrounding the girl, the fear in her eyes, it was all too real.

Lyra's heart began to race, and she could feel her palms becoming sweaty. She tried to distract herself by crunching on a few more chips, but her appetite had disappeared. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, and her eyes began to fill with tears.

Abby, who was sitting next to her, seemed oblivious to Lyra's distress. She was engrossed in the movie, her eyes fixed on the screen as the action unfolded. She didn't notice the way Lyra was fidgeting, or the tears that were threatening to spill over.

Lyra felt a pang of resentment towards Abby, who seemed so unaffected by the scene. She wished she could be as detached and emotionless as her friend, but the memories were too painful. She wanted to reach out to Abby, to tell her what was going on, but she couldn't bring herself to speak.

Lyra felt her anxiety growing. She couldn't bear the thought of watching another scene like the one they had just seen. She turned to Abby and said, "Can we switch the movie, please?"

Abby looked at her in confusion. "What? Why? The movie just got interesting."

Lyra's voice rose in desperation. "I can't watch this anymore. Please, can we change it?"

Abby still looked bewildered. "What's wrong? It's just a movie."

Lyra's eyes filled with tears. "It's not just a movie, Abby. It's too much for me. I can't handle it."

Abby's face softened. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize. Okay, let's switch it."

But before Abby could get up, Lyra let out a cry of frustration. "No, no, no. You don't get it. You don't understand. I can't do this."

Abby's confusion turned to concern. "Lyra, what's going on? Talk to me."

Lyra's voice cracked as she yelled, "Just remove the disc, Abby! Please!"

Abby recoiled slightly at the sudden outburst, but quickly composed herself. "Okay, okay. Let me take care of it."

She reached for the remote and pressed the eject button, removing the disc from the player. Lyra's face crumpled as she stood up, tears streaming down her face.

Memories of her past trauma flooded her mind, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and helpless. She had been triggered by something seemingly small, but it had been enough to send her into a spiral of panic and distress.

Lyra felt a sense of shame and embarrassment wash over her, as she realized how out of control she had become. She knew that she had frightened those around her with her outburst, and she felt guilty for causing them worry and concern

"I'm sorry, Abby," she choked out. "I just can't deal with this right now."

And with that, she rushed out of the room and into her own bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.

Abby was left standing alone in the living room, feeling utterly bewildered. She couldn't understand why Lyra had reacted so strongly, and she felt a pang of guilt that she had inadvertently upset her.