Standing in an empty aisle at Forever 21 it appeared to be a quiet day out. The store was less packed than usual and the girls were out and about. With a hand stiffened on a hanger and the bright fluorescent lighting of the store. Alycia shook back into a scary reality startled by a flashback from her moment of gang-related captivity. Catching her breath she began to pant. Bright lights had begun to trigger her most recently including the ones around the house and she was struggling to get past what they brought back to her. The room she was confined to during her kidnap came to her in dreams. The unexpected presence of light in that dark room brought on fear and anxiety. Just the thought of it.
Slowly she turned from the clothing hanger then a loud disruptive noise of ringing began in her ear. Defeated by the noise she fell on her knees to the hard cold ground. Hands-pressed against both ears she let out an audible but faint scream before help came.