The jet engines roared louder as the plane picked up speed down the runway. Elian’s grip on the armrests tightened until his knuckles turned white under the bandages. His chest felt tight, like someone was slowly squeezing the air out of his lungs. He tried to breathe normally, but it came out shaky and uneven.
‘No, not now. Not f*****g now.’
He thought as his heart hammered wildly against his ribs, then the familiar wave of panic started creeping in slowly, the same one that always hit him during takeoff. His hands began to tremble and sweat prickled at the back of his neck. And all of a sudden, the white suit that had felt elegant earlier now felt suffocating.
“Elian,” Dex said softly, voice sharp with concern. He unbuckled his seatbelt immediately and moved to the seat right next to
