[hr][color=D87093][sup][h1] [center][img]https://imgur.com/KQZPC2J.gif[/img][/center] [b][center][color=D87093]HEBE[/color][/center][/b] [/h1][/sup][/color][indent][sub][COLOR=D87093][I]SEATTLE UNIVERSITY - SOMEWHERE ON CAMPUS[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=D87093][b]MOOD: [I]DEEP BREATHS, DON'T CRY[/i][/b][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr] The water cascaded over her back, warm and powerful. Normally the heat would be soothing and her muscles would rejoice in the feel as it washed her body clean of any impurities. Today though...today it was anything but calming. The torrent of water droplets sounded like thunder in her ears and the feel of it made her skin crawl. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she stepped out of its reach, hands running languidly across her face. After taking a deep breath, she rung her hair out absentmindedly before reaching to wrap a university branded towel around her body. It hadn’t happened for a quite a while but Hebe sometimes still woke in a flurry of terror. Her fight or flight response activated, she would dart up from her bed, heart pounding almost painfully, a sheen of perspiration covering her body. Often it was too overwhelming and she wouldn’t be able to stop the flow of tears that cascaded down her cheeks. This time had been one of them and it had been bad. None of her usual tactics had worked...watching something funny, counting the different colours in her room, taking a hot shower. Nothing was helping today, and although she had stopped crying, she still felt that horrible panic deep in the middle of her chest. Tears, now of frustration, pricked at the edges of her eyes. All she wanted to do was go back to sleep but she knew that wasn’t going to happen. Instead she padded over to her bed, clambering on top of the flower patterned duvet and moving a few of her mismatched cushions aside. Crossing her legs, she pulled a very adorable toy [url=https://sc01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1.FTfCbuWBuNjSszg7628jVXal.png_350x350.png]elephant[/url] towards herself. [color=D87093] “You understand don’t you Stampy?”[/color] Hugging the well worn stuffed animal to her chest, she closed her eyes. It was going to be okay. It was. It was. [center][color=D87093]─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───[/color][/center] She couldn't tell how much time had passed. That sometimes happened; she got lost in her thoughts, her mind instead finding solace in fond memories and eager dreams. Her hair felt semi dry though so she figured it must have been at least an hour. Blinking, and in a slight state of disorientation, Hebe looked around her room. The sun was peeping through her white curtains and through the slightly ajar window, she could hear the sounds of the now awakened campus. Everything was so calm & peaceful, a stark contrast to her own tumultuous state. Distractedly, she pulled at the fabric of the stuffed elephant she still had clutched in her hands, her deep brown eyes easily betraying the emotions that were going on behind them. God she was being stupid. A right stupid stupidhead. She also really needed to work on her insults. [color=D87093]“Stop being so silly Hebe. I mean Hailey...”[/color] She whispered the last part to herself, although her room mate was still fast asleep and would’ve heard none of her ramblings. Hebe figured it was lucky that she didn’t talk in her sleep or she probably would’ve spilled the beans to every person she’d ever bunked with. Not that the thought of telling them hadn't crossed her mind before. She genuinely loved mortals, especially those that she called friends, and having to keep such a big secret from them had always been difficult for her. Even him...she had especially wanted to tell him... She was glad she hadn't. Standing up, Hebe wandered over to her mirror. It was peppered with a mixture of stickers, photos and university memorabilia, but she was still able to see herself well enough in it. Frowning at her complexion, she gently padded at the blotchiness that was beginning to subside, a tell tale sign of her earlier distress. In the past she would’ve tried to cover it up but instead she smiled gently at a picture of her and a couple of close friends. Well as close as you really could get to a mortal. They’d just been to the beach and spent most of the day in fits of laughter. It had been great. And so would today! Yep, she refused to have her day ruined by a stupid panic attack. [color=D87093]“You can do it! You're a goddess of eternal youth, and er...some other stuff as well I guess.”[/color] After forcing herself to smile back at her reflection, she rushed over to her closet, haphazardly pulling out the desired pieces of [url=https://imgur.com/ZcER1vX]clothing[/url] before she could change her mind. Dropping her towel messily to the floor, she promptly got changed before tying her long brunette locks into a high ponytail. Hebe felt her skin prick against the cold that forever permeated their room but she knew once she started running, she would be more than warm enough. Grabbing her phone and ear buds, she darted into the hallway, making sure not to slam the door as she went. It was late morning so she passed a couple of familiar faces as she hopped down the stairs, offering them the best greeting she could muster. It was just a quick 'hi' or a wave of her hand but it was enough to placate them. Hebe hated having to pretend...it reminded her of the other gods, who were all so wrapped up in their twisty turvy games. Her nose scrunched at the sudden thought of them, her mind [i]almost[/i] lingering across to dangerously pleasant memories, before she yanked herself back to reality. No. She wouldn't think of them. And she wouldn't chastise herself. It was fine to act the part...if only until she felt herself once more. So instead of plunging into her mind, she closed the gap between herself and the heavy oak doors that blocked the way out, using the weight of her body to push one of them partly open. The wind was brisk as Hebe stepped outside and she found herself hopping in place for a few seconds, trying to generate even a modicum of heat. [color=D87093]“[i]Sooooo [/i]cold...”[/color] She whined to herself, for a brief moment missing the coziness of her bed. Remembering that she should probably warm up, Hebe pulled her left leg into a quad stretch. She wobbled precariously for a few moments, somehow managing to keep her balance and not fall face first onto the ground. It was kind of ridiculous how many times that had actually happened to her... Finished with her stretches, she pressed the randomise button on her favourite playlist, knowing she would love any of the songs that played. Tucking her phone into her sports bra (there was like a fifty percent chance it wouldn’t fall out), she took off running. Instantly her body and mind felt lighter, and she was glad that she’d forced herself outside. Yep, today [I]was[/I] going to be a good day.