Breathing Pal Novels & Stories

“No grunting. No flaring. Good air entry.” His lungs expanded evenly. No distress. No retractions at the base of his ribs. Just small, determined breaths that sounded like quiet sighs. His nostrils barely moved. His mouth opened once in a tiny, offended oval, then closed again as if he had decided the world could wait until he understood it.

"Listen to me. You’re not in that basement. You’re here, in this elevator. It’s just you and me, alright? There’s no fire, no smoke. Just focus on breathing." I took a deep breath, making it loud and slow so he could hear. "In... and out," I coached. "Come on, follow me. In... and out." For a moment, I thought he wasn’t going to do it. His breaths were shallow, panicked. But then, slowly, he started to mimic my breathing. It was uneven at first, shaky. But gradually, it began to steady. "That’s it," I said quietly. "Keep going. We’re okay."

Her throat tightened, but her voice stayed steady. “I’m here,” she said. “Breathe with me. Slow. In… and out.” She demonstrated, exaggerating her breathing. “In,” she said softly. “Good. Now out.” His chest hitched. Again. She didn’t move her hand. “Listen to me,” she said calmly. “You’re not dying. You’re not alone. Just follow my voice.” Slowly—agonizingly slowly—his breathing began to steady. The monitor’s rapid beeping eased.

The pain that hit at the mention of the name was so sudden and unexpected that I have to literally make myself focus on my breathing. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Now, slowly release it back out and count backward from five as you do. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. And again. I continue to do the breathing exercise over and over again until the elephant that seemed to have suddenly made itself comfortable on my chest eases. “Just… Mer… or Amaris… please,” I finally manage to gasp out as I continue taking deep breaths. “Fuck! I’m sorry,” he says, and the look on his face conveys that he truly feels like hit for setting me off, even if he doesn’t know the reason why. “I didn’t mean t

His breath on my mouth before my feet even remember the floor exists. I’m pressed against him with my palms flat on his chest and his face right there, flour on his jaw, grey eyes wide, close enough that his exhale lands on my lips. My fingers curl into his shirt. Under my right hand, his heart kicks. Once. Again. Harder. I can feel each one, a steady, hard drumming that doesn’t match his face. His jaw is set. His eyes are steady. But his chest is hammering against my palm like something trying to get out and his breathing has gone shallow and controlled, each inhale measured through his nose, the kind of breathing you do when the natural thing would be worse.

I arch my back. "Shh! Baby." He whispers. He speeds up and I start building up and seconds after I explode on his hands screaming his name. He retreats his fingers and makes no other move, "Why are you stopping?" He has left me a panting sweaty mess, "All in good time baby, sweet dreams." Fuck.

srak srak “I heard rustling from the cracks of the cars parked in the basement. Not long after, I heard the snorting sound of a woman whose voice seemed very familiar to me. "I told you I'm fine. You don't have to overdo it on me." "But the doctor said that you should always be careful because you are still in a vulnerable state."

I questioned instantly, thinking I did something to trigger a panic attack. She was quiet for a moment. Her eyes weren’t focused on me as she took quick breaths. I don’t know if that’s the type of breathing she’s supposed to be doing, but I think it’s not. “Cass? It’s okay. It’s just me. It’s just dumbass Collin. Breath in with your nose, slowly let it out through your mouth. Like this.” I instructed, demonstrating the breathing technique I’ve seen one of the kids at the Boys & Girls Club do when they start to have an asthma attack.

We did not stop until I could not breathe, he pulled away "Breath Zee" urh, how does one do that again? I forgot how to breath… "Urh how do I do that again?" I ask him Niklaus laughs "Inhale count till three... one... two... three... And exhale" I follow he is instructions and I start breathing again I blush, I look down at my hands and stutter out "Thank you... For that" "Don't worry about it" I could hear the amusement in his voice.

“She acted the part. I almost missed that.” Britney said, “Someone who’s asleep will eventually slow down in their breathing. Her chest is rising and falling quite excessively. Not to mention that her hands are still curled into fists.”