The Hush Society Presents... by Izzy Matias (best desktop ebook reader .txt) 📕

taking deep breaths when I realised she was having a panic attack."

It’s the first time I hear about someone having a panic attack. Anxiety always seemed like something you felt when you do something you’re scared of, not in the middle of the night. I inch closer to them, but don’t go too close.

"She kept chanting ‘I’m so scared.’ And that's when I woke Amber to get you guys."

Maybe I could distract Lily with an outrageous story…something to get her mind off of whatever she’s anxious about. But somehow, it doesn’t feel like the right thing to do at the moment.

"Then I started panicking. I don't know. I've never experienced this before. I don't know how to help—I normally do. But now I don't. I feel so useless." Cassie tilts her head down.

I move towards her. She looks like she needs some comfort, too.

Benji sits beside Lily and pulls her into a hug as Cassie scoots away. Lily’s still shaking. Tears stream down her cheeks. Benji tells Lily something and she responds to him. He rubs her back and continues talking to her.

Cassie watches them still with a concerned expression. Amber and I sit beside them on the floor. I give Cassie a gentle pat on her shoulder—the one nearest to me—and nod. She sighs, but flashes me a weak smile.

I don’t think any of us know exactly what to do to help Lily, but I feel we need to be here and I suspect the others do too—like staying is a form of support.

Eric emerges from the doorway, shaking his head with Benji's mobile in hand. "Still no service." He looks wide-awake now. "Is she any better?"

My eyes go to his other hand where he's holding my acoustic guitar. I tilt my head as a question, but Eric simply approaches us and hands it to me. He sits beside me and instructs me to, "Play anything."

I catch on to his intentions—maybe music will change the mood from Lily's panicked state to this prism of hope in the form of music. Amber grabs her acoustic guitar in the corner and hands me an extra guitar plectrum. She grins before we launch into a cover. The Gramophones' "Burn Brighter" is a fleeting song about hope and overcoming the darkness that lies within us. There’s no better song for the moment.

Amber plucks haunting minor notes while I tap the soundboard of my guitar to add percussion to the melody. As she enters the next stanza, I jump in with the chords and she continues her plucking-slash-strumming. My gaze moves from my fingers to Lily. She stares at us as if she's in a trance. Benji gives us a faint grin. The notes flutter around her brick bedroom walls. Lily’s tight form opens up and she leans against the wall.

Amber takes the lead on the opening line. I do some backing vocals—my voice a notch higher; the song sounds fuller this way.

By the time we hit the pre-chorus, everyone but Lily is singing along. Lily’s face registers focus—as long as her demons have been silenced temporarily, the music has done its job.

Though this performance is not at a sold-out venue, nor in front of a massive crowd, it's my favourite thus far. This rendition of The Gramophones' Grammy-winning song means more than any of the songs I've ever played to anyone. It's helping a gal through a panic attack. It's helping silence the voices in her head.

This is what music is supposed to do.

This is what I want to do for the rest of my life: use music to help others. Not the typical music-helps-me-process-my-experiences sort of thing, but really help others.

After we hit the final swell of the song, I glance at Lily. She looks more like the girl I know her to be. Amber and I look at each other, expectant. Again, I am clueless as to our next move, so I give Benji a questioning look.

"Let's have a jam session downstairs," Eric suggests. "It feels kind of claustrophobic in here with everyone."

"Don't leave me alone," Lily whispers.

"Of course, not, love. We'll stay up with you all night if we have to." Cassie takes Lily by the hand and we escort her downstairs.

It’s as if I'm part of some secret spy mission.

We pass the dim hallway covered in bookshelves. Lily’s parents fly in from Asia tomorrow, so we have the whole converted warehouse to ourselves. We’re going to set it on fire with music.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Eric dashes back inside our loft. The round, dark blue fluorescent lights that hang in the high ceiling above us turn on and he tosses our blankets aside. "I've got an idea," he says. "Benji, I need your help!"

Benji follows without complaint.

The more time we spend with Lily, the more she looks more like herself. When all this is over, I want to talk to her about it. As long as she wants to, of course. I want to understand why she feels that way and what triggered it. Thankfully, we know that the company of mates and the presence of music calms her down.

Eric and Benji return with Amber and Cassie's camping beds. They lay the mattresses beside the couches, as if creating a fort.

"What's this? A sleepover, ey?" I joke.

At this statement, Lily perks up, though still a little pale.

"You gals wouldn't mind if we stay here, would you?" Lily says.

"Anything to help you, Lils." Amber squeezes Lily's shoulder and plops down on the mattress.

Cassie puts a record on. Once the needle touches the vinyl, upbeat piano notes envelope the room. This rhythm goes on for a few more stanzas before a male-female duo enters, blending their voices. The piano is replaced with a percussion beat that sounds like fingers snapping.

"Who is this?" I ask, unable to place the band. "I’m loving them already."

"Oh Wonder," Lily says in a whisper, but with a big grin. "My fave!"

Cassie sings as she motions for Amber and Lily to join her in