Breathing Pal Novels & Stories

TWO YEARS LATER. She heavily inhaled a refreshing amount of air and slowly drew them out. Her palm reached for her chest once again to feel her heat beat, hoping the breathing exercise had calmed her down; however, it did not work at all. It seemed to have worsened her palpitations. Her heart was still drumming wildly beneath her ribcage, and it felt like each time she took in air, it only aggravated her condition further. There was no time to waste so she decided to try a different approach to treating her momentary anxiety.

I can’t breathe. “Katie, Katie girl. I’m here. Mom is here too. Breath.” Dad’s calm voice said. I didn’t even hear him come in. He placed his hand on my stomach. “Feel my hand. Breath there. Feel your stomach go up and down. Into your nose, out of your mouth.” Dad said. I felt his big warm hand on my stomach and tried to focus only on that. “Breath Kate. In, “ dad said as he breathed with me, “and out. That’s it, Kate. You’re okay. Breath.”

Elena POV Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Something heavy surged in my chest as I shifted back and realized that the breathing exercise wasn’t working. My heart started pounding fiercely against my ribs as if it couldn’t wait to get out. It definitely wasn’t fear burning in my veins as I forced myself to breathe through my nose, even as mind numbing pain travelled from my chest, to my arms, to my spine. I licked my dry lips. No, It wasn’t fear. I couldn’t allow fear come into my mind, not right now when it felt like waved were crashing against my ears.

Darryl threw his hands in the air. “Hold it. Hold it. What are you doing?” he chuckled while shaking his head. When she looked at him with bewilderment he continued, “Do me a favor and just stand still for a minute. Just stand still and take a deep breath. Use your gut to breathe in. Fill your lungs all the way. Like this.” He took a slow, deep breath, while he demonstrated to Pam the proper way to breath. “You need to use the gut. You are using the chest. Look again.” With a look of patient determination, he demonstrated the proper method of breathing one more time. “Now you try it.”

" I tried to tell him that was exactly was I doing but my tongue failed me. "Bianca! Look at me, look at me!" He commanded and I opened my eyes wide to meet his grey ones. "On my count, I want you to inhale as hard as possible. Are you ready? One, two, three." I inhaled sharply just as Liam had asked and only released my breath on his signal. We did a few more breathing exercises. It didn't totally help my situation. I calmed down for a minute but afterwards, the breathing problems and the restlessness resurfaced.

Slowly, deliberately, I inhaled and exhaled, hoping he would mimic me. At first, there was no response. His gaze remained distant, and his chest rose and fell erratically. But I didn’t stop. “You’re doing great,” I encouraged, offering a small, reassuring smile. “Just keep trying.” Gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, his breathing began to shift. The quick, shallow gasps slowed, becoming more measured as he started to match my rhythm. I continued to guide him, keeping my tone soft and consistent. “In through your nose,” I repeated gently, drawing in a long breath. “Out through your mouth.”

He was pale, but the rise and fall of his chest was real. "He's breathing," I whispered.

His breathing was shallow. "Sure you can. Look at me. You can do it, just take a deep breath and let it go slowly. In and out", I spoke calmly. "I. Can't." he gasped the words. I parted his knees, putting my own legs between them, getting closer to him. "We're doing this at the same time, okay? You and me together." I took his hand and placed it right above my belly button, my hand on top of his. "Feel the air getting inside, expanding my belly. Breath with me." Taking a long breath, I exhaled slowly and did it several more times until he began to follow suit, his gaze fixed on our connected hands.

His hands hang loose at his sides but his fingers twitch. “Feet shoulder width,” I instruct. “Knees soft. Do not lock them.” He adjusts. “Breathe in through your nose,” I continue. “Slow. Count to four.” He does. “Out through your mouth. Count to six.” His breath shakes on the release. “That is fine,” I say. “Do it again.” We breathe together. The bond hums. Quiet. Present. Minutes pass. Or maybe seconds. Time bends here. Blake opens his eyes. “It is louder tonight.”

Instinctively, I open up to let him in and that's when I drag in the first breath of air. I tear my mouth away from his as I gulp in several times, battling to breathe once again. “Lily, look at me. Try to breathe slowly, like this. In. Out. In. Out.” While he says this, his eyes are pinned on mine and he's doing the breathing exercise along with me. I follow his leading, inhaling when he does and exhaling when he does, mirroring his actions and searching his face like it has all the answers I need.