When Raven opened her eyes, the light streaming through the open window looked fresh and golden. If it were a different person, in a different room, in a different time, the sunlight might be seen as refreshing, invigorating; a fresh new start to the day.
To Raven, the sunshine was mocking. So warm and beautiful. So goddamn mocking, because inside her head it was storming and a cyclone was raging outside. To Raven, the whole world and everything in it seemed so much more shadowy. So much more lonely.
But everyone else just went about their lives, going through their daily routines.
The world had moved on, but Raven was still drowning, stuck at the bottom of a well of her emotions. How taunting it was that nobody stopped to see how hurt she was. Nobody seemed to even notice that while for them the sunshine warmed their skin, for her it taunted her with promises of a brighter, happier life.
Raven blinked at the patch of sun on her carpet, and roused herself to get up, storm to the curtains and rip them shut, cutting off the beautiful, haunting golden rays.
Why would the world just keep turning when Raven was so damn ruined?
How could time keep ticking on at the same old pace when Izzy was gone and Steven was not welcome?
Why? Why would the stupid sun shine so brightly when all she wanted to see was the darkness of a room with all of the blinds drawn tight over the windows?
How could the whole world march on, when all Raven felt like doing was curling up in a little ball and never moving again?
She stood there in her darkened bedroom, bare feet sinking into the soft carpet, and as she did, she realised she had never felt so alone. So horribly, terribly lonely. She felt tears sting at her eyes, and rubbed them away quickly.
"I need a shower." She muttered, and then she began to take off her clothes, get her towel, and she stepped straight into the en-suite bathroom.
The shower water was as hot as she could stand it, just how she liked it, and the aroma of milk and honey shower gel encircled her. Raven began to wash herself slowly, rubbing the soap up and down her arms and her body.
Suddenly, it felt like the floor had fallen from under her, her head span and an overwhelming sense of fear gripped her. She struggled to stand up, and slipped down the tiled wall to the floor. Raven was more scared then she had ever been, and though she didn't want anyone to see her naked, she honestly thought she was going to die. Hyperventilating and shaking uncontrollably, Raven screamed
"HELP! help!"
There was the sound of fast footsteps approaching the door, somebody running to her aid.
"What's wrong?" It was a male voice on the other side, but she couldn't tell who it was, what with her head spinning and her heart pounding in her ears. Raven sobbed loudly,
"I- I'm dying!!" Her fast breathing made her feel like she was suffocating, and she was sure that her heart was going to jump out of her chest at the rate it was going.
The door burst open, and Duff made it to the shower, opening the glass sliding door. He leaned forward and turned the water off, and then he turned to grab her towel. Duff wrapped it around her and hoisted her up, carrying her bridal style back into her bedroom. He put her down on the bed, adjusted the towel around her shaking body, and sat behind her, his chest up against her back. Duff's jean clad legs were against her sides, and his long arms were wrapped around her.
"You're having a panic attack, Raven. You need to breathe." He said calmly.
"I- can't!" Her hyperventilating made it impossible to take deep breaths.
"You need to try." She could feel Duff shake his head, still wrapped around her. "C'mon. With me." He said, and she felt his chest expand in a deep breath. She tried to slow her breathing, and with some difficulty, managed a raggedy half- breath.
"That's it, Raven. Just keep trying." His voice was calm and logical, unlike everything going on in her own head, and she clung to it. She took a deep breath, and let it out, and then another. "That's it. It's okay." Duff muttered, taking another deep breath himself. Raven repeated him. Her heart rate was slowing down, and the warmth and closeness of Duff's body was oddly calming.
After a few minutes of this, Raven was breathing normally, and although her heart was perhaps a little faster then normal, that crushing fear that she had felt was gone. Duff let her go, and scooted away from her. Raven adjusted the towel around herself so that she was covered properly.
"Th- thankyou, Duff." She looked up at him, more then a little bit embarrassed. He had just seen her naked.
"No, it's okay, and don't be embarrassed. It meant nothing romantic." Duff frowned,
"No, I know it didn't, but you still saw me naked." Raven explained.
"I know exactly how you feel. I've had it happen to me before." He told her. Raven knew that Duff had had panic attacks, because back in the future, that was common knowledge among fans.
"Is that why you knew what to do?" She questioned. Duff nodded,
"I get them, too." He told her, "and I've gotten one in the shower before, and just like you I didn't want to be seen with no clothes." He added, "but you know what?"
"What?"
"Your health is more important then your pride." He responded. Raven knew he was right, and she trusted Duff, so it being him who came to the rescue was a good thing, albeit a little embarrassing. Raven smiled.
"Thankyou so much." She said,
"No, it's all good. Anytime!" Duff smiled back.

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Kisses Xx