My Bratty Wife

Relief washed over Suzy as Doris finished tending to her wounds. The cool water and ointment had soothed the burning pain on her back, and the simple act of kindness had warmed a place deep inside her.

With a satisfied sigh, Doris set the empty food tray aside. "There," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "That should hold you for a while."

Suzy nodded gratefully. The bread and cheese had filled the empty void in her stomach, and the water had quenched her thirst. It was a small comfort, but it was a comfort nonetheless.

As Doris began to gather the empty plates and bowls, a question furrowed her brow. "Milady," she said hesitantly, "there was a word you used earlier... claustrophobia. What does that mean?"

Suzy blinked, surprised that Doris remembered that detail from their earlier confrontation with Helene. "Claustrophobia," she explained, her voice slightly hoarse, "is a fear of enclosed spaces. Like this room, for example. Being locked in here, with no way out... it triggers a panic attack in me. I feel like I can’t breathe, like the walls are closing in on me."

Doris’s eyes widened in understanding. "So, that’s why you were so... panicked earlier," she murmured, a flicker of sympathy softening her gaze. "I thought... well, I thought you were just upset about being locked in here."

Suzy nodded, a wave of relief washing over her. At least Doris understood now.

Doris’s face softened with sympathy. "Poor Milady," she murmured. "No wonder you were so panicked."

"How long do you think we have before the guards wake up?" Suzy asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

Doris glanced at the small window high up on the wall. A sliver of moonlight peeked through, casting an eerie glow on the dusty room.

"It’s getting late," she said thoughtfully. "They didn’t drank quite a bit, so they should be out for at least a few more minutes."