The word panic comes from a Greek god.

Pan, the satyr.

Who drank wine and partied,

With a band of frenzied freaks.

Now his name is associated with panic attacks.

Panic attack:

A sudden episode of intense anxiety or fear and physical symptoms, based on a perceived threat rather than imminent danger. (dictionary definition)

In a little over thirteen years of life,

I've encountered five.

One standing out from the others.

This one happened on one of the last days of school.

We, the students, ate our lunch outside.

The eating was fine.

I was with five friends.

Sammy.

Gabby.

Emily.

Blu.

Amayah.

We ate.

We joked.

We laughed.

Then I see you.

You, alone.

I get up.

I approach you.

Your story made my fists clench.

Into fists that I wouldn't be allowed to fight with.

"About three sport boys harassed me earlier,"

You tell me.

I stand next to you, knowing they'd be back.

And they were back.

Soon, a crowd of the "populars" appear.

I take my place in front of you.

They aren't allowed to hurt you.

I imagine them tearing you apart,

Into pieces of spare knowledge and brilliance.

I clench my teeth and stare the main boy in the face.

Walter.

I never had a problem with him until now.

I barely remember what he told me.

What I remember was blurred,

Fear strikes me.

He yells something, I push him back.

The people behind him are shouting stray insults at me.

Oh god, too many people behind him.

I could name all of them but I knew there were more than I saw.

So many eyes,

So many people,

Willing to shred me into nothing.

My hands shake.

I stare at that lead kid, saying words I can't recall anymore.

When I speak, my eyes wander.

Now, shouting, my eyes stick to his face.

His face become distorted shapes.

I must've been crying.

It didn't matter anymore.

A girl breaks through the crowd.

Not her, not Jaydin.

Alpha female.

I don't even remember hearing anything after she showed up.

I felt my hands shake.

And my knees and my bottom lip,

Quivered, terrified.

There was

No escape,

No help,

No sound,

Just fear.

Panic.

Frenzy.

Terror.

Help.

Help.

Help.

When the blur ended,

I felt safe in the fact that I had saved you.

Even if the shaking hadn't ceased.

Even if you didn't know I was crying.

Even if it was painful.

I predict more panic attacks in the future.