Entry for @AmazonPrimeVideo #Panic contest.

Lily had spent most of her life with anxiety weighing her down. Growing up, she kept to herself. Sometimes she made friends, like in school or with the neighborhood kids, but if the friendships ever faded she would internalize it: she was the problem, she was doing something wrong, this would happen again. Because of that, dating also fell to the wayside. Any time a guy would try to talk to her, panic would set in quickly.

What if she said something stupid? What if she passed out? What if he grew to learn about her anxious ways and dumped her? Her first panic attack was on the first date she had ever had. She was 13, and a boy asked her to get ice cream and walk in the park with him. Thinking about how to act and what to say and how nervous she must look sent her down a spiral. She felt like she couldn't breathe. Couldn't speak. Couldn't swallow. Her body felt hot, then cold, then hot again. Her heart hammered against her chest while her hands and legs felt numb. It was the most terrifying feeling, as if death was right around the corner.

The boy never spoke to her again. And Lily forced herself to stay alone so she wouldn't go through that again. All over Instagram and Facebook, she watched people get into relationships and post pictures together. The older she got, the more she saw engagements, pregnancies, and weddings. Meanwhile, she had never even had a first kiss. She wasn't "fun". 25 years old and didn't drink. Didn't party or go to clubs. Sometimes she could barely handle a restaurant or a trip to the movies. She lived her life scared. Who would want that?

But being in therapy had started to change things. She finally got help after being tired of the panic attacks controlling her life. Being able to admit that she had a problem and hearing that someone would help her through it gave her hope for the first time in years. Instead of staying in her apartment all day she started to try new things. Rode out the panic attacks when they came. And met a boy: Cameron.

Lily was upfront about her anxiety, and yet he still wanted to go out with her. Made plans to take her to a coffee shop and if she wanted to leave, or cancel, he would understand. But with his kindness and her progress, Lily felt like she could do this. She could actually do what had scared her for so long.

"Are you ready?" Cameron had asked her when he picked her up. Yes. She was ready in every way. And when she smiled, he leaned down and kissed her.