It had been a big day and Jasmine had never felt so exhausted in her life, but that didn't stop her from enjoying the sensation of Cash's soft lips crashing into her own. The queen-sized bed didn't even fill up half of the room and fairy lights were their only source of light other than a lone candle that Cash had lit on the bedside table. Most of the rose petals had fallen to the floor by now along with Cash's shirt.

Cash traced Jasmine's lips with his tongue, a bright smile somehow still showing on his lips. He'd won the jackpot with her and there had never been anybody else, nobody in the world had made him feel the way she did. 

It may have usually the job of the woman to dream of her perfect wedding night, but Cash had wanted this all of his life. He couldn't be happier.

But whilst he was lost in joy, the blonde's was fading rapidly.

Jasmine's breaths were growing faster. Her chest felt like it was getting tighter, like it was about to explode. Her hand pushed Cash away, it was a soft shove that barely moved him but he knew to back away.

Various gasps could be heard from her mouth. She didn't have time to stop and gather her thoughts before her legs started running. They ran fast, faster than she ran when she went for her morning run along the beach.

She ran out of the honeymoon suite and down the corridors. Jas searched for the stairs but her mind couldn't recall their positioning. Her eyes wandered quickly, urgently, until she saw the green light of the fire escape. That was the quickest way out. As she ran for the stairs, she struggled for air, she needed to find a way to breathe again. 

Robbo. Cash. Robbo. Cash. Robbo. Cash. Her mind started alternating between the two names. She felt like she was about to be sick.

Halfway down the third flight of stairs, unable to run any further, she pushed her back against the wall and dropped to the floor. 

Robbo Cash Robbo Cash Robbo Cash. 

What if it happened again? She wouldn't be able to lose another husband. Why did she agree to this? Why did she get married again? The world didn't allow her any luck the first time, so why should it be any different now? What if what happened to Robbo happened to Cash as well?

She pushed her back to the wall and focused her body to take a deep breath. It wasn't the first time she'd had a panic attack and it wouldn't be the last. By now she had some idea as to how to deal with them, but the last thing she wanted was for Cash to see her in such a state. 

Cash and Jasmine had been together for two years now. He was the biggest gentleman she'd ever met and she had jumped at the chance to marry him. Jasmine had got caught up in the excitement of it all and her mind had only remembered to switch the negative thoughts on now. Now that it was too late.

After a minute of slow breathing, she'd remembered how to control her mind and her body and could not breathe at a normal pace. She still craved the air of the outdoors, that part hadn't gone away. 

The now-married couple had chosen a gorgeous wedding venue with endless green grass and lakes that ran through the gardens. They were staying in the honeymoon suite of the venue, with various other guests in other rooms. It had been expensive, but both had described it as worth it whenever anybody questioned their decision.  

Jasmine pushed herself up from the ground and steadied herself.

"One step at a time, Jazzy," she breathed out to herself.

Step 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Step 13.

Her feet stopped. It was liked they'd been frozen to the ground. Her eyes stared downwards, but not just the floor. There was a person, a body, an awful lot of blood. It was her natural instinct to bend down, to feel their pulse, to gasp when there wasn't one. 

Jasmine's eyes hovered over their head and the blood that surrounded it. It had spread down their white shirt and onto their black suit.

He must have fallen down the stairs and knocked his head. She lifted her eyes higher, up the stairs that she'd just walked down. 

The blood was down them too, little drips and splatters of red over the expensive-looking, cream carpet. She'd been too focused on her own mind to notice it earlier. 

Then there were footsteps coming. 

Jasmine couldn't remember when she'd first started hearing them, but they were definitely getting louder and faster at the same time. They came closer. Was she in danger? Cash would come looking, she knew that. It was probably just him.

Finding her face looking at his, she breathed out in relief, "I'm glad it's you." Her eyes looked from him and then to the body, tears only just springing up in them.

"Who is it..?" Cash breathed out in disbelief.

"It's Nikau Parata."

"Is he..." Cash didn't have to say the word before Jas took a deep breath and nodded. Her eyes glazed over with tears, yearning to run to him and have him take her in his arms. But she was interrupted.  

Beep. Beep Beep.

Jasmine reached into the pocket of her jacket and took out her phone. It would probably be another 'congratulations, sorry I couldn't be there' message just like the other ten that she'd received in the last hour.

She opened it and gazed down, narrowing her eyes. 

I knows you'll be busy right now but I need you to come to my room. As soooon as you can. 

Jasmine looked to Cash, holding her phone to her chest. "Um...Can you call this in? I need to go."

She didn't give him time to question why.