The Terror Barrier

Suddenly, Alina froze. As terror flooded her body, she focused on her breath.
Inhale. Exhale.
She could do this.
Countless others had taken their turn in the gauntlet and survived.
She could do it too.
Inhale. Exhale.
Don’t think, just do. You’ve prepared for this, Alina.
She sure didn’t feel prepared.
The clock ticked and her heart sped up, pumping anxious adrenalin through her veins. She worked to lengthen her shallow breaths as bile clambered up her throat and chaos churned in her gut.
Inhale… Exhale…
Sweating. She was sweating. But it was time. Now or never. Her turn to step into the ring. She reached out a shaking hand,
and hit send.

Originally published in Ariel Chart International Literary Journal, May 2022