When Breath Becomes Air Novels & Stories

But I ignore it, trying to pretend he’s no one and this is nothing as I blow a breath out of my mouth and into his. I can sense his chest rising, making my own squeeze with slight relief as I know it’s a sign that there’s nothing blocking his airway. That’s one breath down, but still one more to go. Then I’ll have to go back to chest compressions. Pulling back a centimeter, I suck in another rush of air before my mouth is over him once more. For the second time, I spark as we align and then I blow. That time, Kadeem’s chest raises higher, filling with more air.

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.

Small droplets of air escaped and flew upward and onto the surface. Byron was swimming right in front of me with his back facing the hole. He raised a hand with three fingers raised. I started brace myself for what was about to come as I started to fill in and clear air into my lungs. Byron lowered a finger and I inhaled air and trapped it into my lungs. He lowered another finger again. This time, he was raising one hand towards me. I did the same. Zero.

“Breathe.” “I am breathing.” “Through your teeth. You do that when you’re freaking out.”

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.”

But I could force the window open. One breath of air at a time.

I'm having trouble breathing. The lock finally clicks open, and I leap out into the murky early morning light. I take deep, long breaths as I tightly wrap my arms around myself and press my eyes shut. What is going on with me right now? Amanda, take it slowly and steadily. You remember how to breathe through it all. Slow and consistent.

Nick mocked and I glared at him. “What’s popcorn, Aiv? Do we have to throw popcorn in the air and eat it? Will it pop in the air?” Cherry giggled. “No, Cherry. Let me explain how you play it,” I tucked my hair behind my ears and clasped my hands together. “One of us will be the popcorn and that person will have to curl up on the trampoline mat, holding his/her knees to his/her chest. Then, the other players will try to “pop the popcorn” by bouncing either on their knees or cautiously on their feet. And when the popcorn “pops” by letting go of his/her knees, the popcorn will exchange places with one of the other players. Got it, Cherry?” I explained and asked if our little sister understood t

At that moment, it was as if he reached into the depths of my being and saw me, truly saw me. I let out a deep breath, a breath that I had been holding for far too long. It was as if the act of sharing had expelled the trapped air from my lungs, and suddenly, I could breathe normally again. The tightness in my chest eased, and I felt a lightness that I hadn't experienced in a while.

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.