I can't REMEMBER, screamed Soh's inner voice, panic bubbling in her core, her heart racing against her ribs, her breath coming in short, shuddering gasps. Now that the shock had had time to wear off - and, unfortunately, before the tea had managed to provide its calming effect - Soh was beginning to understand the true gravity of what had transpired.
Mateo's hands on hers made her jump, and she nearly pulled away, looking up wildly, fear in her eyes. For a moment, she was in limbo, unable to move away, yet unable to surrender to his instructions. She felt faint, hot and cold and dizzy all at once, and perhaps a little ill, and it took her a few moments of tortured silence before she could begin to try to breathe with Mateo.
At first, her breath came in shaky, stuttering strokes as she tried and failed to mimic his count of four. But as she concentrated, focused on that and only that, everything else slowly faded away - or, at least, to the back of her mind, where she didn't have to think about it right now. When she had finally calmed - or at least stopped shaking - she withdrew her hands from Mateo's, unable to meet his gaze, embarrassed by her display. "Thank you," she whispered.
Mateo's hands on hers made her jump, and she nearly pulled away, looking up wildly, fear in her eyes. For a moment, she was in limbo, unable to move away, yet unable to surrender to his instructions. She felt faint, hot and cold and dizzy all at once, and perhaps a little ill, and it took her a few moments of tortured silence before she could begin to try to breathe with Mateo.
At first, her breath came in shaky, stuttering strokes as she tried and failed to mimic his count of four. But as she concentrated, focused on that and only that, everything else slowly faded away - or, at least, to the back of her mind, where she didn't have to think about it right now. When she had finally calmed - or at least stopped shaking - she withdrew her hands from Mateo's, unable to meet his gaze, embarrassed by her display. "Thank you," she whispered.
