Chapter 38: Anxiety Attack

I'm surprised at myself that I haven't dedicated a chapter specifically to anxiety attacks - besides the one with Ruby – with my OC being the victim…again…I like torturing my OC, okay? It's how I vent.

(Eret's POV)

It's late. It's been a few months since Drago's attack on Berk, and I've gradually been accepted as a Berkian/Hairy Hooligan…I personally prefer being called a Berkian.

Anyway, here I am, in bed with my wife Becky, dreaming about our wedding day – as usual…it's either that or have nightmares/night terrors about Drago – when my wife is shaking me awake, wheezing.

"Love? What is it? What's wrong?"

She puts her hand to her chest and that's when it hits me what's going on:

My poor, dear wife is having an anxiety attack.

"Shhh. You're going to be alright, my love. Give me your hand." Becky gives me her hand and I put it on my chest, where my heart is. Where the branding scar is.

"Feel that?" She nods, still breathing heavily.

"Try and copy my breathing, darling." I take a deep breath in and hold it, and she copies me. I let the breath out slowly, and Becky copies me again. I do this a few more times, and, sure enough, Becky's breathing goes back to normal and she collapses against me, shaking and sobbing.

"Shhh. You're okay, hon. You're okay. Do you want to talk about what started this?"

"I-it was him. He…he was…hurting me…over and over again. And I tried to stop him, but he ended up stabbing me…I slowly and painfully bled to death…all the while I was thinking of you."

"Oh, love. I'm so sorry you dreamt that."

"Thank you."

"Are you okay?"

"I will be. Just keep holding me."

"I can do that. I can sodo that."

And so I do. I hold her the rest of the night.