DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS; ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE; ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"It's my...birthday? What is that?" Luke's eyebrows nearly touched his hairline.

Cat had to hold on to the table where she was putting away a few things she'd gotten from the market. Her grip turned chalky as her breaths came out choppy. She tried to inhale and breathe deeply. But all she felt was suffocated.

She'd just informed him that the day on which he'd been born was drawing near and that if he wanted to invite Mia or any of his other friends he could ask them to join. But Luke's question had suddenly made her realize the pointlessness of it all.

What if this is all for nothing?

What if Luke doesn't ever really accept me as a part of his life?

What if his broken becomes his normal?

That's what she feared the most and that's what triggered the oncoming panic attack. Her thoughts escalated and started to spin while she tried her best not to let Luke see her like that.