Past meets present

I can hear my phone ringing. I reach for it and register it's Belle calling before I even realise I'm on the floor. "Hey, are you coming tonight?" she asks. "What's tonight?". "Ehm, the social?!" She sounds confused now. "Lou, are you okay?". By now I am equally confused. "It's Wednesday? It's not Monday still?" I ask, starting to panic slightly. I'm starting to register the blood. I feel myself starting to hyperventilate and realise I don't have much time. "Belle" I say, "I think I need an ambulance". That is the last thing I say before passing out again. I vaguely remember her saying my name before I drop the phone on the floor. I can hear the worry in her voice, and I know help is on the way.

What happens over the next couple of hours is a bit of a blur. I'm not sure how she got in, but as I come around I see Belle's worried face, and I can hear Analeigh on the phone with the ambulance in the background. I can hear Belle telling Analeigh that I'm awake, but I feel myself drifting off again, despite both of them trying to get me to focus. I drift in and out of consciousness for the next couple of hours, although I have very little memory of it all. It's midnight before I regain full consciousness and stay awake.

"Lou, Lou, hey". I can hear the relief in her voice as I look up at her. Judging by the worried look on her face though, I know I must look dreadful. I soon learn that this is indeed the case. How are you feeling?" she asks. "I've been better" I say, but I can tell it doesn't quite have the effect I was hoping for. If I am being perfectly honest, I'm in so much pain, but I'm not dying (I think), so I don't want to worry them. She grabs my hand then, "What happened?" The thought hadn't yet crossed my ming, and I freeze at her touch. She must have seen the panic in my eyes before I even realise that I'm having a panic attack. "Hey, Lou. Look at me. You're okay. Just focus on your breathing. Slowly". I can feel Belle grabbing my other hand, but I try to focus on Analeigh's calm voice. She knows how to deal with this. I realise there is no point figthing it, it's going to be a full blown panic attack and I can feel my hands starting to go numb. I know I need to focus, ignore my rapid breathing and try to stay calm, but with the lack of oxygen to my newly concussed brain it's too much and I fall out of consciousness once more.