Tension crawls up my spine and a emptiness hollows out my gut. I feel weak, like I haven’t eaten all day. The hairs on my arm stand on end and my skin gets littered with goosebumps. It prickles with energy. My chest starts to burn and ache as panic settles in.

I scan my surroundings but there’s no one else here. I’m alone, but I don’t feel like I am. I can feel someone’s eyes on me. Wherever they are, I can’t see them.

My mouth goes dry and I can feel the sweat gathering on my palms. I rub them against my thighs but that hardly does any good. I take a deep breath in, but it’s shaky. I force it out and try to will myself to calm down. I can feel a sharp pressure buildup behind my eyes as they begin to water.

I squeeze them shut and will myself not to cry. Fear seizes my heart, causing it to slam wildly against my chest at the realization that I have made myself blind to my surroundings. I open my eyes and frantically scan the room around me.

It’s empty, but I can feel someone standing behind me. I turn but there’s no one there. I’m alone. Why doesn’t it feel like it?