Fallout (Crank 3)

exciting class

anyway, but there

is no way I can possibly

concentrate on the Industrial

Revolution. The boredom is crushing.

I feel like a vacuum is sucking the air

from my lungs. My heart races.

My wrists throb. There’s

a gushing in my ears.

I could die. Right

here. Right

now. I close my

eyes, breathe. Breathe

to fight the burgeoning panic.

No! Damn it. I won’t give in. Not

here. Not now. Not when I’m so close.

SO CLOSE

To feeling like

maybe, just maybe

I have a chance

at being okay.

So close

to feeling normal.

Regular. Not a misfit

at all, but someone

worthy of a friend,

and not only a friend,

but

a boyfriend. Breathe.

Deep. The threat of