CHAPTER 18 - Adam Fiore

***Lights and Shadows - Part 2***

We stayed in the car for about thirty minutes. I kept watching everything because this situation was new to me; I had never witnessed something like this before.

“Sweetheart, are you feeling better?”

“Yes, Mom,” Lunna sighs. “Thank you.”

“When you feel a panic attack coming on, it's important to limit the amount of stimuli you receive at that moment. Try to find a quiet and preferably dark space where you can practice breathing and relaxation techniques. If you're outdoors, try to focus on a single thought or object that you can direct your mind to. If you choose an object, think about how you feel about it, who made it, and analyze its shape. This can help reduce the symptoms of a panic attack. Did you leave without the paper bag?”

“Yes, I was fine, and it had been a while since the last attack.”

“I know, princess, but you need to take care of yourself. If you feel a crisis approaching, grab the paper bag or do the butterfly hug.”

“I know, Mom…” Lunna's voice is weak, and she looks so tired. She leans her head against the backrest of the seat and closes her eyes.

“Adam, my son.”

“Hi, Mrs. Arlet, I'm here.”

“Thank you for taking care of my girl. I'm truly grateful.”

“I found her on a nearby beach.”

“She tried to go to a calm place or look at something that would calm her down.”

“I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know what it was about.”

“She must have been anxious or worried about something, which is why she had a panic attack.” I look at Lunna, who is sleeping.

“She fell asleep,” I say, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

“After a panic attack, it's normal for her to feel exhausted. After all, her whole body experienced the adrenaline rush, the muscle contractions caused by intense fear, and the exhaustion from the fear of going through it all again leaves her drained. Full recovery can take a few days, and I'll call the college and explain what happened. I'm sure she won't be able to go for a few days.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Arlet. I'll take care of her until my sister arrives. I'll take her upstairs.”

“I appreciate it, my son, and let me know if anything happens, please.”

“You can count on me, ma'am.” We say our goodbyes, and I hang up. I get out of the car and go to the passenger side, picking up Lunna. She wraps her arms around my neck, and as her head is nestled near the curve of my neck, she takes a deep breath and sighs.

I smile, close the car door with my foot, and lock it. I walk to the elevator, carrying her. As soon as I reach the apartment, I take her to the guest room and put her on the bed, taking off her shoes. There are some bruises on her feet, and I can't believe what I'm thinking. How did she manage to walk from college to the beach on foot? It's very far.

I adjust her on the bed and continue looking at her. I brush a strand of hair that falls on her face and… she's so beautiful! I stand up and go to the door, opening it. I step out, and before closing it, I hear her murmur a thank-you. I close the door and go to the living room. As soon as I enter, I see Kim rushing in, followed by Kéfera, Julliety, and Romolo.

“Where's Lunna? What happened?” Kim approaches and asks, “I haven't seen her in a while, since the day I found out her boyfriend is a scumbag.”

“She's sleeping in the guest room,” I point to the room, and Romolo runs towards it. “Lunna had a panic attack.”

“What? Since when does she have that?” Jully asks, sitting on the couch.

“I don't know. I only found out because I didn't know what to do and called her mother.”

“How do you have her mother's number?” Kim asks, her hand on her hip, making her look like our mother.

“When we went to her house, remember, she had everyone write down her cell phone number in case we needed it?”

“Oh, that's right! But is Lunna okay now?”

“Yes, but I had never seen her like that before.”

“She was acting very strange, and we don't know why,” Kéfera says.

“Her mother said she's anxious or worried about something.”

“Oh my goodness!” Jully exclaims, putting her hand on her forehead. We all looked at her. “We know why she's like this!”

“We know?” We all say, including Romolo as he enters the room.

“Well, um, the girls and I know…”

“Why is she like this? What happened to her?” Romolo approaches Jully, and I move closer too. I don't like him, but I understand his concern. However, I won't let him do anything rash.

“I'm sorry, Romolo, but only Lunna can tell you. She's worried because she needs to talk to you and share something with you, but it's up to her to decide when and what to reveal. Darn it all!” Kim and Kéfera speak together, covering their mouths, and I'm left clueless.

“Could you tell me what you're talking about?” I ask, looking at them.

“We can't! We promised not to tell anything, just to be there for her when she needs us,” they say, and it seems like they made some kind of sisterhood vow.

“The worst part is that we broke our promise,” Kéfera says.

“We weren't there for her when she needed us.” The three of them look at each other as if they could understand each other through their eyes, and they run to the room where Lunna is. I stand there, looking at where they went without understanding anything.

“Well, thank you,” I say, looking at Romolo, who is standing in front of me with his hand extended.

“You don't have to thank me. Lunna is important to me, and I'll do anything for her. I'll be here for her when she needs me.” He looks at me and withdraws his hand, putting it in his jacket pocket. “I'll take my leave. If you want to stay, you can sleep on the couch. Actually, I think it's better if you go. You can talk to her tomorrow.” He says, walking towards the door, and before leaving, he looks at the hallway, and Jully appears.

“Let my girlfriend know that I was here. I'll call tomorrow to find out how she's doing,” he says, looking at me again. When he mentioned “my girlfriend,” he was quite categorical, and I'm sure it was to rub it in my face.

“Okay,” Jully says as he leaves. I close the door and run my hand through my hair.

“You two really don't like each other, huh?”

“Never, and he doesn't fool me!”

“Are you jealous, Adam?”

“What?”

“Look,” she puts her hand on my shoulder and sighs. “You're fooling yourself and wasting time. If I were you, I would wake up to reality before it's too late because once she will be dressed as a bride at the altar, saying 'yes' to Romolo. You won't have any more chances,” she says, giving my shoulder two pats, and heads towards the room where Lunna is.

I stand there, like an idiot, with her words echoing in my mind. From tonight on, I won't know what it's like to have a peaceful sleep.