#having ptsd

Percy twisted the knob and stepped into the tub. The water poured down his body, he watched it pool near his feet as it swirled down the drain. His head hung while the water created rivulets down his face.

The heat. The steam. He couldn’t see. Despite the water dripping down his face his throat burned. His mouth tasted like acid. His stomach turned. Steam. Smoke. Poison. Shattered. Black.

Percy let out a scream. The Shower head exploded. The water gushed down around Percy, now curled around his knees. Distantly, Percy heard a thumping sound. His chest heaved in time with his sobs. He could feel the poison sting his skin. His throat swelled with his tears. Water. More water. He choked as the water inside him filled his nose. He couldn’t breathe anymore.

The door to the bathroom slammed against the wall. Annabeth filled the gap where it had stood moments before. “Percy!” She closed the gap to the shower. In a step, she was kneeling in front of the tub. “Percy! I’m here! Percy, please. Please, we’re fine! We’re in Manhattan. You’re safe. Please!” Annabeth smoothed her hand through his hair. She gathered him in her arms, never minding the water soaking her as she held him tight.

Percy gasped; his eyes flew open, unfocused. “The poison! Annabeth.. I. I can’t… Annabeth! The poison!”

Annabeth pulled him even closer, she stroked his hair and whispered into his ear, “That’s not here, it’s not real. Percy, we made it out. You are alive, that is just water. You were taking a shower; you are having a panic attack.”

“Annabeth…” Percy choked that one word out, he was still curled in on himself, but he gripped her shirt. “Annabeth.. I can’t.. The.. the poison.”

“Percy, it’s just water. You are the son of Poseidon. You control the water. You have control. Don’t let this control you. Just take a breath.”

“Annabeth.” The water stopped pouring out of the busted drain. Percy loosened his grip on Annabeth’s shirt. He took in a breath. Then another. Percy pulled his hands up towards his face. “Annabeth, Annabeth I’m sorry.” His shoulders started to shake, he let out a quiet whimper. “It’s… I think somethings wrong.”

“Percy, nothings wrong. We’re fine.”

“No. I… I think something is wrong with me. I’m not fine. I’m broken. That place… something inside me shattered.”