“I think so,” she answered slowly, thinking back at times she felt overwhelmed.
“Are you sure?” the man asked, recognizing her hesitation.
“I’ve had a few instances of not breathing well and some pain in my neck, shoulders, and arms.” She watched as the man scribbled on the form on the clipboard.
“I’m going to prescribe some sedatives to take the edge off, but I also need you to start taking extra care to monitor your stress tolerance.” He looked at her seriously, “You need to take care of yourself.”
Erin gave him a pursed simper. “I will,” she promised. “Thank you, Doctor Smith.”
The man gave her a satisfied grin. “I’ll keep you for another few hours of observation, then release you. Is there anyone you can call to get you?”
“That’s okay. I can manage on my own,” Erin assured him. He looked as if he wanted to say something else but thought better of it. After he left, Erin reached for her cell phone and called her boss.
He answered on the first ring.
“Erin, it’s so good to hear from you. You gave us all a scare back there.”
“I’m sorry, Archie.”
“No. Don’t apologize for something you had no control over. I’m just happy that you’re doing okay.”
“Yes. Me too.” Erin smiled appreciatively. “It was just a panic attack, though. I’m fine. Hopefully, I can be back in the office by tomorrow.”
Archie sighed deeply on the other end of the line. “Erin, you need to think about taking care of yourself first. It would be best if you took some time off from work, maybe a few weeks.”
“Bu-But what about the campaign?” she stuttered.
“Everything will be fine without you for a few weeks, Erin. You’ve done a great job keeping the numbers up, and your market monitoring is above par.”
“Archie, please. I really need to work,” she pleaded.
There was a short pause before her boss replied. “Fine, you can continue working, but you’ll be doing it remotely. I’m still cutting your workload for now and hiring a temp to help out.”
Erin was disappointed that she couldn’t get back to the office, but being able to work at all would have to suffice. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do with all the free time she had on her hands now, though.
“I’m giving you six weeks away from the office to work remotely and to recuperate. You’re a valuable asset, and I don’t want to lose you. You need to find something that can help you get back to center. Maybe you need to spend some time with your family.”
Erin’s mind flashed to her family in Oak Harbor when he mentioned family. Her thoughts of missing them had preceded her panic attack. Maybe the only way to fill the hole of loneliness growing wider was to fill it with what she needed the most.
“Thanks, Archie. I think I will use the time to visit my family in Oak Harbor.”
ChapterThree
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. I want to inform you that we will be preparing to land at the SeaTac Airport within the next five minutes.”
Erin threw the blanket off her, sat up in her seat, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. It had been a long six-hour flight from JFK to Seattle. Having boarded the plane a little after midnight, Pacific Standard Time, she’d chosen to use the time to catch up on some sleep. Plus, the doctor-prescribed sedatives hadn’t given her much choice. The woman reclining beside her stirred, but her eyes remained closed.
A voice came rushing over the PA system within the plane. “If you look outside your windows, you will catch some of the best views that Seattle has to offer. The local time is eight thirty a.m. It’s a chilly fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit, but the sun is out, and the skies are clear.”
Following the pilot’s instructions, she turned her head to look out the window. She could see the southern end of Puget Sound discernible in the early morning sun. With its peaks covered in snow, Mount Rainier appeared like a magnificent illusion towering above the clouds.
"At this time, kindly ensure that you wear your seat belts. Flight attendants, please get ready for landing. Please take your seats, cabin crew.”
Erin fastened her seat belt. The woman finally roused and did the same, just as the flight attendant reiterated the pilot’s instructions.
Shortly after that, the plane began its descent.Erin breathed a sigh of relief after the plane’s slight jerk forward from the wheels connecting with the asphalt before smoothly taxiing down the runway and finally coming to a stop.
Thirty minutes later, she’d collected her luggage and walked through the large, bustling arrival lounge toward the exit. She was reminded that she was no longer in New York when the biting cold air hit her square in the face. She pulled her jacket snuggly around her.
