The din of the checkout area swirled around Jacob, blending into an oppressive hum that drowned out all rational thought. Jacob’s hands trembled, his wallet slipping slightly in his grip. His throat felt tight, his chest constricting as if the air had been sucked out of the room.
The fluorescent lights above seemed too bright, their glare harsh and unrelenting. The world tilted, the floor beneath him threatening to give way. “I—” he tried to speak, but the words stuck in his throat, choked by the rising wave of panic.