MERRIELYNN.
I walked through the school hallways, the weight of the weekend’s events pressing down on me.
Whispers followed me, each one sharper than the last, and I could feel everyone’s eyes on my back.
“Did you see what happened at the beach?” I thought I heard someone murmur, and I cringed, the memory flooding back.
Once again, I was the subject of attention, but this time for something so down right embarrassing.
I had never felt so exposed, so utterly humiliated. I could still hear the voices ringing in my ears, the way my heart had raced as I struggled to breathe, panic washing over me like a storm sweeping through.
I had never experienced a panic attack before, and of all places, it had to happen in front of a crowd.
My cheeks burned at the thought of it, and I wished I ha
