Gemma was not hiding in the cupboard at a party. Of course she wasn't, that would be ridiculous. She was in a cupboard, but she was not hiding. Hiding suggested fear and she was not afraid, a cupboard just happened to be where she chose to enjoy the party from. She was fully prepared to engage with anyone that came upon her in her current position, it was not her fault that no one had found her yet.

Muffled music sifted through the gap between the door and the floor, the coats surrounding her were comforting. Like a material hug without the added problem of people. Not that Gemma didn't like people, she was open to the idea of people, she often interacted with them. Perhaps not often, but she had done it before. She was at a party that was a very social place to be, Gemma thought smugly.

Gemma was rather pleased with herself for successfully negotiating a party. She had made it through the crowd and she had found the perfect position from which to enjoy the experience. She smiled as she folded herself into the coats hanging around her, fidgeting until she found a position that didn't make her muscles sing.

All in all Gemma was ready to call it a successful evening when suddenly the cupboard door opened and a small girl wearing bunny ears threw herself into the space Gemma had colonised, slamming the door behind her. The girl was breathing so heavily it almost drowned out the slither of music and conversation that found its way through the gap between the floor and the door.

It should be noted that until that point, Gemma had genuinely believed she was open to the idea of conversation, even as she sat alone in a cupboard. She was ready to welcome anyone that should stumble upon her position, until someone did stumble upon her and she quickly realised she had grossly miscalculated her desire and ability to interact with people. Perhaps she should have started with a dog.

The small bunny eared girl didn't notice Gemma at first. She was so caught up in controlling her breath. She relaxed into the comfort that only solitude could provide. The feeling that comes with any small reprieve from judgement. Her relief was misplaced of course, as she was not alone in the cupboard. It didn't take her long to notice the scorch of Gemma's gaze, she stared wide eyed at the person she saw as an intruder.

Gemma was about to scream, cry, ask god why this was happening to her when a hand shot up and covered her mouth. Wide eyes were just visible through the darkness, the bunny eared girl gripped Gemma's mouth as though her life depended on it. Gemma mirrored the fear on her intruder's face. They were locked in a moment of shared terror. That was when Gemma realised she was going to die in a cupboard.

"Who the hell are you?" whispered the intruder as her breath returned to normal.

Gemma didn't reply, she couldn't reply, a hand was still covering her only means of communication. She could have fought, she supposed, but she was never much of a fighter. Her instinct in extreme, unexpected situations was to freeze and hope no one noticed she was there, which was decidedly easier when she was alone.

"Oh," said the intruder as though she just remembered where her hand was.

"Please don't scream she added," before lowering her arm.

Gemma did not scream, she could not scream, she could barely breath. She gulped loudly, searching for oxygen she couldn't feel. It was like the air had been sucked out of the room and she was left breathless in the vacuum of space. She couldn't breath and in that moment she was sure she would never breath again. Her body convulsed in on itself as she reached for air that would not come as the stranger's face shifted from concern to panic.

"Oh crap," said the stranger's voice, which sounded to Gemma as though it was being filtered through a broken speaker.

The world felt as though it was far away, but Gemma was acutely aware of the stranger's presence. Her every move, breath, was there at the forefront. It was that awareness that allowed Gemma to lock onto the stranger's voice as she gave calm and deliberate commands.

"Hey hey," said the stranger. "Look at me. Look at me."

Gemma looked. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, there was enough light slithering up from the gap between the door and the floor that she was able to make out more of the stranger's features beyond the bunny ears. The stranger was small, smaller than Gemma. She had dark skin and round eyes. Her hair was pulled back tight but there were wild curls sticking out from the bun on the back of her head.

"There you are," said the stranger when Gemma's eyes met hers. "I'm here with you. Follow my breath."

It was a struggle, Gemma still felt as though something was blocking every breath in her chest, in her throat. But her eyes focused on the girl in front her. Her eyes were intense, never blinking. Gemma watched her mouth open and close in minute movements she might have missed if she hadn't be looking. That would have been unfortunate, thought Gemma, as the tiny lift of her lip every time her breath passed was mesmerising.

Below her lips, Gemma could see the stranger's chest lift as air filled her lungs. In and out. In and out. In time with the words the stranger was reciting. Gemma just watched at first, breathing felt impossible. She didn't even notice her breath had started to move in time with the stranger's. It happened without prompting, she was so focused on the person in front of her, watching the subtle movements of someone beautiful living and breathing that she didn't notice she was mimicking the movements she saw.

The pounding in Gemma's head faded into the beat of the music that could just be heard through the door. The world beyond the girl in front of her came into focus and with it all the worries that had engulfed her to start with came to the forefront threatening to overtake Gemma again.

"Please don't freak out again," said the stranger reaching towards Gemma but stopping before she touched. Her hand hovered as though she was trying to give the comfort of touch without actually making contact.

Gemma didn't reply, she wanted to but she didn't trust herself to speak. She was still unsure of the situation and the threat of panic was still there underneath her calming breath. The stranger was still an unknown, and she still didn't know how she was going to make it from the cupboard to the safety of her bed without having some kind of confrontation.

"I'm so sorry," said the stranger her voice thick with the apology and desperation. "I just came busting in here grabbing you like I have the right to without so much as an explanation. That was not cool, I was just freaking out because my ex - or well not really ex but kind of ex because it's complicated - turned up randomly even though she wasn't supposed to be here and I didn't want to get into it but she was coming this way and the door was on the other side of the room. I just panicked I guess. Sorry. Please can I just stay here for a bit because I really can't deal with her at the moment you have to understand."

This was a moment when Gemma was supposed to say something reassuring. She knew that. She was supposed to say it was okay. Comfort the intruder, forgive them for ruining her evening because it wasn't their fault. Gemma wanted to do that, but she didn't know how so she kind of hummed and nodded hoping her face was projecting a veneer of concern rather than fear.

It seemed to work as the stranger let out a sigh of relief. The stranger sort of shivered in relaxation before turning her attention back to Gemma, reaching her hand out again with more determination than care this time, "I'm Amy by the way."

Gemma didn't reply. She nodded again. Amy didn't seem to mind she just kept talking. About her night, about her ex, about everything that had lead her to this particular cupboard at this particular party.

Amy spoke as though she was having a conversation, but she didn't seem to expect any reply. Gemma found it strangely comforting. Despite not requiring Gemma to speak, Amy managed to make Gemma feel as though she was part of the conversation. It never felt as though Amy was speaking to anyone except Gemma, her focus was so whole and complete that it was almost impossible not to return the attention. So Gemma listened.

She listened to Amy talk about the ex that had stolen her heart, and her life, and kept her in a state of constant confusion. Gemma could relate. She didn't have anyone causing her confusion but she felt it. She understood the concept of losing your identity to a reality that was not your own, Gemma almost wished she had a person she could blame for her problems, but she did not and weirdly Amy did not seem to blame her ex entirely for her own reactions.

"It's about understanding your limits," said Amy. "I know I can't trust myself around her. That's a fact. So the best thing for me is to avoid temptation. You know?"

"I know," replied Gemma surprising even herself.

If Amy was surprised by Gemma's words she didn't show it beyond a small lopsided smirk that almost appeared as though she was afraid to let the whole smile take over. Something about the hint of a smile made Gemma want to see the whole thing.

"See I knew you'd get it," said Amy with relief. "Nothing wrong with hiding in a cupboard if that's what you got to do."

Indignation filled Gemma from some reservoir of emotion she didn't know she had. She was not hiding. It was an important distinction, it felt vital that Amy understood that. Gemma summoned the unexpected indignation as she protested, "I am not hiding."

With that Amy's lopsided smirk grew into a full blown smile and it was even more mesmerising than Gemma could have imagined. Amy smiled like she was surprised, like she hadn't expected it to happen. It rose from her gut and through her body, Gemma could almost feel the happiness expanding out of her. It was contagious. She could not have stopped her body from mimicking Amy's if she had wanted to, fortunately she didn't want to. She let the smile consume her, staring in awe at the girl in front of her.

"Okay you're not hiding," said Amy around her smile. "Why are you in a cupboard then?"

Gemma shrugged, and that would have been her entire response if she hadn't been high from the look of joy on Amy's face. It gave her the courage to speak, "this is just where I decided to hang out."

Shockingly Amy's smile expanded and Gemma decided she would do almost anything to keep that look on her face for as long as possible. She spoke again, "you can hang out here with me if you want."

"Okay," said Amy.

"Okay," said Gemma.

Gemma and Amy were not hiding in a cupboard at a party. They were in a cupboard, but they were not hiding. They were enjoying the party together, in a cupboard. This cupboard just happened to be where they chose to enjoy each other's company and that was okay.