Happy Heart Panic -

Her phone buzzed. “Seven okay? I’m making that pasta you like.”

A jogger passed, saw her white-knuckled grin, and jogged faster. Happy Heart Panic

Elara closed her eyes. She did the only thing she knew how to do when her body betrayed her. She leaned into it. Her phone buzzed

Elara smiled, a real one this time—teeth, crinkled eyes, a tiny laugh. Her heart gave one last, joyful hiccup. saw her white-knuckled grin

She took a slow, shaking breath. Then another.

It felt like standing on a cliff edge in a dream where you could fly. The thrill was the terror.

Her breath hitched. She gripped the bench slats. “This is ridiculous,” she whispered to the daisy. “I’m having a happy heart panic.”