The Incident

I’m by a supermarket waiting for a taxi The wait of 4 minutes feels like an eternity. There is a man of 40 breathing heavily, literally gasping for air My initial assumption is that he’s on something. He pours water from the bottle all over his head I re-evaluate my initial assumption. He is on the phone talking to someone. He has called an ambulance Still doing circles like an animal locked in a cage You’re having a panic attack, I tell him bluntly. He stops for a moment, looking directly into my eyes You’re not gonna die. Take deep breaths. I persist My hand started shaking and I thought I was losing consciousness. I called an ambulance, he tells me sheepishly. I nod. Take deep breaths, I repeat He starts breathing like it’s his first breath, or his last. He smiles and thanks me I smile back I hear the sirens Go and meet them, I tell him. I smile again