Why Am I Suddenly Stumbling Over My Words Novels & Stories

Which meant every word coming out of my mouth for the next thirty seconds either fixed this or made it significantly worse. "I mean, some people think that we are…" I started and then immediately realized I had walked into that sentence without an exit strategy and I had to slightly restrategize my words right away. "But actually, I don't even know what people think we are. But we are not…anything like…that." The stutter arrived before I could stop it, climbing up through my chest and tangling everything on its way out. I pressed my eyebrows together without meaning to. "We are not like that for real." At this point, Ken's finger moved upward.

Huffing as a memory flashed into my mind, accompanied with that alluring voice of his. Let me in The words echoed through my brain again and I groaned into my pillow frustrated. I'm so clumsy! I'm going to repeat it till I stop! I slapped my forehead repeatedly recycling the word dummy till my head hurt. I knew that I was probably overreacting, but that's just how stupid I felt. I know it wasn't my fault I tripped, I mean let’s face it, it could have happened to anyone! But it didn't-! It happened to me!

I wasn't just a runaway; I was a missing piece of their machinery, and Ginny wasn't the type to let a piece just walk away. ​ The silence stretched until it felt too loud, pressing in on my ears. I needed to fill it with something, anything. If I’d had my notepad, it would’ve been easier. Words on paper didn’t hurt. Words out loud did. So I forced myself to speak anyway, even though it felt like swallowing glass. “I… I h-have… a… a ba… ba… bad st–stu–stutter,” I said slowly, carefully, praying I could get through a few sentences without breaking apart. “It h-hurts… to sp… speak.”

God, what was happening to me? Even my palms were sweating. This man, with his innocent yet provocative aura, intrigued me with his every line. “Ok, I was just…” The words weren’t coming out right either. I was babbling, and that has never happened to me before. Focus, Clarissa, this is your job. You do it and then you get out. That’s all there was to it.

🦪 DALE LAZARUS 🦪 Footsteps move closer to me, and I slam my eyes shut, still trying to figure out my exact location or trace the voice to the owner. One thing is for sure: there is indeed a stutter in my brain. “You ever wonder why your room clock skips five minutes every time you blink? Or why does people’s voice sound like it’s coming from under the swimming pool? It’s not the adrenaline,” the voice continues, and I heighten my senses.

I ask. Nothing answers. Of course not. But something shifts. Small. Subtle. The word doesn’t feel as solid. “Where did it come from?” Silence. The gap widens. “Why does it not connect to anything else?” The word flickers. Not audibly. Internally. Like its edges just— Blurred. “Why does it feel complete when it shouldn’t be?” That’s the one. The shift is sharper this time. More obvious. The word— Wavers.

I started stammering immediately, my words tumbling out in a flustered mess. “I—I… Liam, you can’t just say that. We’re… I mean, the pregnancy and everything is already so much, and you’re here being all… all sweet and confusing, and my heart is just—” I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the rapid beat, emotions swirling wildly.

She had a nose ring on. "I. . .I'm. . . I want to. . .' I stuttered to my surprise. I was an eloquent speaker. I wondered why I was stuttering all of a sudden. I decided to try again. "I wa. . .was just.. . .I was just. . ."

I have no idea where I am. I try to part my lips to speak. Again, it's no easy task. I'm not sure why I feel so heavy all of a sudden, like I haven't used my body in ages. Now that I'm thinking of it, I don't know when the last time I used my body was. I close my eyes and try to think of what happened before I reached here, or even anything before that. There's nothing. There's a vagueness that I can't grasp no matter how hard I try. It's like having a word on the tip of my tongue and not being able to say it. I lose it every time I try to say it.

I stand as swiftly as I can, so to not let everyone staring at me notice that I am shaking from nerve. “Hello” I cough awkwardly trying to clear my throat, while coming up with a speech I didn’t realize I should have prepared. Everything happens for a reason, everything happens for a reason I keep repeating in my head. Then all I can picture is Idris. Breath in and go…