Rayne

“Smith, stop crying, I don’t know what to do. Talk to me.” Her tone was harsh, even though her words were not.

“He’s just a little boy, he’s just a little boy, he’s just a little boy, my Little boy…”

Alliyah’s body swung back and forth as she mumbled the mantra, then it occurred to Rayne:

“You’re not just crying, you’re having a panic attack.” She declared out loud, even knowing Alliyah wouldn’t reply or possibly even hear her.

“Smith, I need you to breathe. Can you do that for me?”

She didn’t respond, but Rayne noticed she tried to do it.

“Okay, keep trying. You are doing well. It's going to be alright, okay? It will be alright.”

This seemed to send Alliyah back to panic, and Rayne instinctively put a protective arm around her shoulders.

“I wish I could help.” She sighed, then remembered. “Can you… Can you do something for me, Smith? Can you touch three things and tell me what they are?”

Alliyah reached beneath her and sobbed:

“Mattress.”

“That is right.”

“Floor.” She reached even further. Then brought her hand back up. “You… Rayne.” She touched the girl’s knee. Rayne bit her lip.

“Can you tell me three things you hear?”

“Your voice.”

Alliyah took a deep breath and held it in:

“My heart… Beat. People outside.”

They heard locals chat as they walked by.

“Good, you did well.”

Alliyah had stopped crying but was still trembling. She shook her head.

“I’m… I’m sorry you had to see that.”

Rayne sat even closer to Alliyah, who took a deep breath, trying to stabilize herself.

“Do not apologize. You have feelings, sunshine.”

They turned to each other at the same time, but both forgot what they were going to say when they realized the distance between them was practically nonexistent - their legs touched, Rayne’s arm was still around her, she still had her hand on her knee. Alliyah leaned over and touched her forehead to Rayne’s.