After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.

She slammed down the phone. The sharp bang shattered my heart like a bottle hitting the sidewalk

When you’re scared, you stay as you are!

He laughed and it sounded startled and a bit rusty, as if he didn’t do that very often.

I’m not somebody else—but my clone is.