Page 100 of Crossing the Line

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Sam hunched in front of me, her eyes wide and her hands firmly grasping my shoulders.

“I feel funny.” My voice didn’t even sound like mine.

Becca squatted beside Sam. “What’s happening with you, Grace? You’re sweating.”

I dabbed at my forehead, and sure enough, I was. My skin was tingling, too.

“My heart’s pounding. Just…happened.” Why was I breathless?

My chest ached.

“Your pulse is racing,” Becca said, and it was then I realized her two fingers were planted against my inner wrist. “I’m trained in first aid. Can I look you over?”

I nodded.

I held still as Becca’s deep brown eyes scanned me like an x-ray.

“Did you eat enough today?” she asked.

I nodded. “Had a big lunch.”

“Good,” Becca said. “Now breathe, nice and easy. In through your nose and out through your mouth.”

I focused on her face, her smile, calm voice. She was a senior, going into premed next year at Duke, and I could totally tell why. Within a few minutes, my heart rate chilled out a little and my breathing was back to normal.

“What. The. Eff?” I slouched forward, resting my head in my hands.

I was still jittery but overall feeling much better. Kind of like the time I had low blood sugar while out running one time, up in Alaska. But I knew that wasn’t the case today. I’d eaten breakfast and lunch, and I was well hydrated. After that incident in grizzly territory, I’d been almost obsessive about it.

“That was weird,” I said.

Becca sat beside me and leaned in. “I think you had an anxiety attack.”

“Um…what?” I lifted my head.

“For real.” She nodded. “My younger sister, she’s in the eighth grade and has some anxiety issues. It was exactly like what happens to her.”

“I don’t have anxiety. I mean, at least, I don’t think I do?”

“We’re all under a lot of pressure,” Becca said. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of or anything.”

“I guess I have been through a lot lately.”

Her sleek black hair fell forward as she nodded at me. “I know we don’t know each other super well, but I imagine that injury has stressed you out. On top of that, shit’s getting real, for all of us. We’re seniors. Everything is about to change.”

I smacked my lips. It felt like the Sahara had relocated into my mouth.

“Here.” Becca handed me the water bottle I kept in my backpack. “Take a sip.”

Becca crouched down. “Are you feeling a bit better? You aren’t as pale.”

“I think so…”

“Has anything like this ever happened before?” Sam asked, standing up. She held out her hand and helped me to my feet.

Becca rubbed my back. “You should take it easy. Drink lots of water. And, to be safe, talk to your doctor about it or at least the school nurse.”

“Probably a good idea.”


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