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A Trauma Response

last update Last Updated: 2024-08-23 20:17:28

As she reached out, their hands brushed against each other. The unexpected contact sent a jolt through her, and she instinctively pulled back, causing the hot coffee to spill all over Aaron.

Aaron jumped up, more out of surprise than pain, while Lily's eyes widened in horror.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling.

Her heart started to race, and she felt a familiar, suffocating panic beginning to rise.

Images from her past flashed before her eyes. She remembered a similar incident with Zared, one that had ended in a shouting match and left her feeling small and terrified. The fear of a similar reaction from Aaron gripped her, and she began to hyperventilate.

Aaron saw the panic in her eyes and immediately tried to reassure her.

"It's okay, Lily, it's just coffee," he said softly, reaching out to touch her arm.

But as his hand made contact, she recoiled, stumbling backward, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

"No, no, no," she whispered, shaking
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