Bullied || Shawn Mendes

Chap. 5

"Tegan?" I hear Brandon say, releasing me from my daze. I have been staring at myself for a while and for a second, I forgot that Brandon was in the room with me.

I stare at Brandon, starting to feel a little uneasy after a few seconds. Memories flash in my mind of Lexi and her friends. How they push me and embarrass me in front of the whole school.

My breathing suddenly increases and I have stand up to expand my lungs. I pace back and forth in front of my bed, struggling to get my breathe back. I must be having an anxiety attack. My hands make their way to the top of my head, expanding my lungs even more. But soon I fall to my knees and soon feel the hands of Brandon on my back. I can hear him saying something, but I can't exactly make out what he is saying. I can't hear anything but the sound of my loud breathing and crying at this moment. Once again I feel a pair of hands on my back but this time I feel several. I hear voices again but don't know what they are saying.

Someone picks me up by my arms and turns me to face them. I find a pair of blue eyes looking into mine with a worry look on his face. I can tell that my dad is trying to scream my name and bring me back to reality but I can't hear anything but the sound of my own breathing. My face is drenched in tears and I can feel all eyes on me. Soon, I see two paramedics rush into the room with a stretcher in their hands. One of the guys grabs my shoulders and his bright green eyes meet mine. I can tell that his voice is soft as he tries to calm me down. My breathing decreases and my tears start to dry out on my face. I'm soon able to hear the words that are coming from everybodys mouths, but I still struggle to breathe. I hear my mother starting to freak out about my behavior, my dad trying to calm down my mother, and Aaron asking Brandon what is going on.

I look to see the paramedics eyes still on me, with a worrying gaze on his face. The other paramedic stands behind him, beginning to prepare the stretcher.

He releases his grip on my shoulders as I stare around the room, my eyes wide.

"Can you tell me your name?" He softly asks.

"Tegan." I say weakly. "My name is Tegan."

"Okay, Tegan. Here's what's gonna happen. We're gonna put you on the stretcher, and we're going to strap you in, okay? The ride to the hospital is going to be about five minutes and we're gonna have to give you a quick check-up and anything else we might have to do will come along the way, alright?" he explains.

"A-alright." I stutter, my voice still weak as I gasp for air.

He turns me around and helps me onto the stretcher while the other paramedic straps me in. My mother stands by my side as I'm being put inside the back of the ambulance.

The ride to the hospital is quite uncomfortable, for both paramedics are working at the same time. One of them checks my pulse, while the other puts an IV in my arm in case I lose consciousness.

"Tom, look at this."

"I see it."

I look down to see what they are looking at, my face immediately flushing red once I do.

My scars are clearly exposed, both doctors looking down on them with wide eyes.

"Do you do this to yourself?"

I don't answer. I'm completely embarrassed and ashamed right now. I feel my heart beat increase and hear it on the machine next to me. The paramedic sits next to me and looks at my face. I look straight ahead, not wanting to look at him.

***

My eyes flutter open and I look around to see Brandon sitting on the chair next to me, his head buried in his hands. Aaron sits next to him, quietly playing on his gameboy. No one else is around, not even my parents. I sit up in the bed as Brandon lifts his head quickly at the sound of me moving. He forces a smile and I force one back, wondering where my parents are and why they aren't in the room with us.