Breathing Rhyme Novels & Stories

My breath catches. No. No, no, no...

The images cling to the corners of my vision refusing to fade. The air feels thick, pressing down on me, choking me as if it wasn’t quite real, hands trembling uncontrollably. “Breathe Tish, inhale, hold exhale.” I hear Kim’s gentle voice guiding me. My breaths come shallow, jagged at first, like I am learning to breathe again slowly. I loosen my grip on the mattress, willing my pulse to slow down. Eyes closed, I breathe in the faint scent of rain filtering through the small cracked window, mixing with the stale air of the room. “Breathe in and out.”

I felt like my chest was getting tight, my breathing was becoming erratic as I felt like I could pass out suddenly when my door opened, hands pulling me up out of the car, steadying me next to it as his voice began breaking through the muffled barrier that seemed to have been up. "..lax, just relax, try to breath Liv, count with me okay. 1... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5.... Breath in, 1... 2... 3.... 4.... 5.... breath out. That's it Liv, there you go."

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."

A small, clear voice—hers, yet not hers—emerged from the chaos: “Breathe. Just breathe.” She obeyed, slowly, shakily. Inhale… exhale… Inhale… exhale… The voices faltered, momentarily confused by the rhythm. She clung to the small, tangible sensations: the rough carpet under her palms, the steady thump of her heartbeat, the faint hum of the radiator.

The breath. Always. The manor breathed love. The garden breathed love. The light breathed love. The love was the movement. And it flowed. The rhythm. The spaciousness. The completeness. The all. Always. The cursed wolf breathed love. The light breathed love. Love was the movement. And it flowed. In every fleeting moment. In every quiet pause. In every open chest. The manor breathed love. The garden breathed love. The light breathed love. In the hush. In the fleeting.

“I… I don't know. I… I can't breathe. I feel faint. What's wrong with me? What's… what's happening? I… I can't breathe—” “Shit! Shit! Shit.” I felt the bed dip and she pulled me into a hug, my head against her chest. “Follow my breathing method, okay?” I nodded. “Now, shut your eyes. On the count of three, okay?” I nodded again, my chest tight. “One, two, three. Go.” She drew a deep breath and I struggled to copy her. And when she exhaled, I did also. “You're doing amazing,” she said softly. “Now let's keep going.”

I breathe in for four long counts before exhaling as long as possible. I keep going until Laura copies my actions, but her chest quivers with her breathing pattern. “That’s it,” I encourage her. “Deep breaths. Fill your lungs, then breathe out like you’re trying to blow out candles. Yes. That’s it.” Once her breathing slows down and the bond is begging me to give her some kind of affection, all I can offer is a smile. “Good. You’ve got it.” Laura nods and presses a hand flat to her chest as she takes control.

… Aria I knelt in front of Lucas, smoothing down his wild hair for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. He wriggled in place, his boundless energy making it nearly impossible to get him to stay still long enough to finish the breathing exercises we had been practicing for the past few days. “Remember what we talked about?” I asked. “If you want to come with us today, you have to promise to breathe. In through your nose…” “Out through my mouth!” Lucas finished eagerly, puffing out his cheeks before releasing an exaggerated exhale that made me chuckle despite myself. “And count to three!”

I can’t breathe. ##########