21. Wrenlee

21

WRENLEE

I run down the corridors. It's impossible to catch my breath. The halls close in and I swear it feels as if the weight of the entire mountain above is crushing onto my head. I don't want to be seen, not like this, and not by anyone.

When I reach the ramp that will lead up to my rooms that desire is shattered. A gaggle of my fellow humans is gathered outside the door to one of the rooms. Every one of them looks up as I run around the corner. I have to leap to the side to avoid crashing right into them.

"Oh, are you…" "Wait, aren't you?" "Is something wrong?" "Oh! It's Wrenlee!"

They all talk at once. I can't make out their individual faces through the blur of tears that fill my eyes. I don't want to deal with them, not now. Why the universe conspires against me I don't know. Probably because I'm a terrible person. The look on Sek'su's face as I left is all I can really see. It even overlays the people in front of me.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry," I say, struggling to keep my voice steady and not sob. One of them moves closer, looming. I hold out one hand using the other to shield my face. "I need to go. I'm sorry."

"Are you okay?" the woman asks.

She's so close. All I want is my space. To get to my room. Why can't they understand? I'm human too and I need a fucking moment.

"Please… I need to pass…"

"Are you hurt? Should we call a guard? What happened?"

All of them move in and close their ranks around me. I can't get past them. That sense of claustrophobia grows and grows until I can't inhale. Can't see. Can't think.

"Fine. Please. Pass. Let me go…"

Someone touches me, grabbing onto my arm. I try to jerk free but that only runs me into someone else. They're too close. I can't stand it.

"Honey, we want to help. What happened Wren? You poor thing?—"

"Get the fuck off of me!" I scream.

It rips out without a thought. All I can think of is getting free. Getting away. These strangers are too close. They're blocking me, touching me. I have to get free.

I push forward, intent on moving past the group, but they barely move. I have to fight my way through. The kind voices change to ones of anger and insult.

"Bitch. All we were trying to do is help," one of them calls from behind me.

My tears come harder and I'm sobbing as I run for my room.

I tear the leather door aside and drop it back into place. Saylor isn't home and I don't know if I'm glad or upset about that. It is just another thing piling on top of all the other things. Overwhelm collapses onto me and all I can do is crawl into my bed and cry myself to sleep.