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“What’s it?”

“It’s Millie, Doctor Sharma.”

I followed Nurse Shelly until we reached the main reception. Millie was on the floor, her body shaking violently, her breath coming in broken gasps.

“Millie?” I called out, quickening my steps.

Her eyes darted up before she shut them tight, her body shrinking as if she wanted to disappear entirely into the wall.

I crouched next to her, my hand on her shoulder. She rocked back and forth, mumbling something under her breath, over and over. Her breaths came in shallow, erratic gasps.

“...everywhere. Everywhere. No,” Millie mumbled, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Run, run, everywhere...”

“What happened?”

“We were coming out of the cafeteria. Everything was fine, and then she… she just started having an anxiety attack. It was so sudden. No idea what triggered it,” Nurse Shelly said.

“Millie,” I said softly. “Can you take a deep breath with me? Just one. In and out.”

Millie didn’t respond. She kept whimpering.

“Lorazepam, one mg IM,” I said. Shelly nodded and left to prepare the injection.

“You’re safe,” I murmured, turning to Millie. “You don’t have to say anything. Just listen to my voice.”

Millie sobbed, still caught in whatever nightmare that haunted her.

“Millie, I’m Doctor Diya. You’re safe here,” I said. “Let’s breathe together, okay? Follow my voice.”

She trembled, but her rocking slowed down.

“Breathe with me, Millie.” I took a slow inhale, loud enough for her to hear. “Inhale for four seconds. One… two… three… four.”

I watched her closely. “Hold it. One… two… three… four… five… six. Now exhale. One… two… three… four… five… six… seven… eight.”

Her breath hitched as she tried, and her shoulders drooped.

“Again. Inhale—one… two… three… four. Hold for six…”

This time, she followed. A shaky breath in.

“Exhale—slow. You’re doing great, Millie.”

Her breath started syncing with mine. Still uneven, but better. She stopped rocking.

Behind me, Shelly stood ready with the syringe, waiting for my instruction.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered. A lie.

It was never going to be okay. Not unless…

Her breathing slowed a little.

“You’re safe.”

Millie took a sharp breath, her lips trembling. “It’s everywhere,” she said, shaking her head. “Everywhere. Lavenders, lavenders everywhere.”

“I’ll take her to her room,” Shelly said, gently guiding her up from the floor. Millie’s shoulders were slumped as she stood up.