𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕣𝕤

𝕥𝕨𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕪-𝕤𝕚𝕩

(TW: overstimulation)

The sound of students in the hallway makes my eardrums feel like they're bursting. I don't remember it ever feeling like this. It feels like a white-hot knife is all over my body, somehow penetrating every inch of skin, muscle, and bone I have. It's explosive. I have no clue what the hell is going on. It feels like someone is pouring gravel into my skull and shaking as if they hated me. It feels like I'm being electrocuted to death. My brain feels like a snapped rubber band. I need to run. I need to hide. Somewhere. I've skipped class before, it won't be so bad if I do it again, right? I run into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me, which makes everything worse. It's as if a bomb just went off inside my head. I let out a quiet sob. Everything hurts. I can't breathe. I stay in that stall for the entirety of the first period.

The sound of the heavy door opening and closing makes me sob harder. The sound of students in the hallway doesn't make it better. There are a few footsteps in the bathroom, which stop after I let out another sob.

"Toni?" Davey's voice calls out. Oh thank fuck, it's not a complete stranger! He'll probably think I'm a freak, though. "Antonio, are you in there?"

"Y-y-yeah," I force out. My throat feels like it's on fire when I do so. He's quiet for a few moments.

"What's wrong? Can I come in?" I nod, and then mentally slap myself in the face. He can't see you, dumbass. I throw myself over to the stall door to unlock it, wincing at the sound of the lock turning. Davey kneels down next to me, closing and locking the door behind him. "What's going on? Take your time." My mouth opens and closes like a codfish, but no words come out. 

All I can muster to get out is, "Hurts..."

"What hurts?"

"All over..." He thinks for a moment, then nods in understatement.

"I think I know what's wrong. Are you okay with touch?" I shake my head. Everything I touch feels like it's being burned into my skin. "That's alright. Focus on your body."

We stay like that for a few minutes, before I suddenly remember the concept of time. "Dave...class..."

He holds up his hand. "I don't care that have class right now. I need to make sure you're alright." Davey? Skipping class? What the hell? He holds up a small bag. "I think you're overstimulated. I get overstimulated all the time, so you're not alone." He opens the bag. "I keep this bag on me all the time for when I get overstimulated. In it, there are items that usually help me. They might help you too." He places the open bag in front of me. "Focus on your breathing. It'll help."

We stay there for what feels like hours. He gives me advice and guidance, and I slowly start to feel better. 

"Thanks, Dave. You really didn't have to do that."

He smiles. "Of course I did. I always need to make sure that my friends are okay." He takes the bag back. "Nurse's office? I don't think going back to class will be the best option." He holds out his hand, helping me off the bathroom floor.

Luckily, no one's in the hallway, so it's quiet. I look up at him. I haven't noticed how tall he is until now.

"Um, you said you experience...whatever the hell that was...too?" He nods.

"Yeah. I'm..um...on the autism spectrum, so overstimulation is common for me." He's fidgeting with something in his pocket. I never noticed that before. He seems stressed about something. Maybe it's because he missed a class or two. We arrive at the nurse's office. The nurse tells me to sit down and sends Davey back to class. I rest my aching head against the wall. The nurse tells me that Medda's going to come and pick me up, which makes me feel slightly better. An escape.