Page 19 of The Fates We Tame

My heart races, kinda like last time. The pulsing in my temple feels like blood is forcing its way through the eye of a needle.

What was it Sophia said earlier?

BAT.

Breathe. I do that. Slowly and deeply.

Adjust. I lean my head back against the glass panel.

Think.

It will pass if you calm. Let the panic go. You’re already on the floor if you do.

Everything is still racing. Pulse, heart, thoughts.

Calm.

I slow my breathing, placing my hand on my chest and abdomen so I can feel my body move. Things are flickering behind my eyelids, and a metallic taste floods my mouth.

“Are you okay?”

I open one eye and see Sophia hurrying to me as best she can, her limp more pronounced as she does. Around her eye is red, as if she’s been crying.

“Don’t run,” I warn. The last thing I need is for her to hurt herself as she tries to reach me. Shakily, I hold out my hand toward her. To catch her or to slow her down or because I need a fucking hand to hold right now, I’m not sure.

That was too easy.

You think she bought it?

Through the darkness, the words come back to my mind.

“Do you need me to get someone?” she asks. She places her hand on the chrome rail above the glass and slowly lowers herself to the floor. It’s difficult for her, and I can’t immediately think of how to help her.

Once she’s down, she wiggles around until she is sitting with her back to the glass too. “What happened?”

“Dizzy. Sick. My eyesight blurred.”

My body is shaking. Whether it’s adrenaline or something more, I don’t know. I feel like I’m gonna puke, and I swear sweat is collecting on my brow and above my lip.

“Here,” she says, reaching for my arm. She tugs me until I’m resting my head on her denim-clad thigh, and I don’t fight it.

“Just breathe through it.” She runs her fingers through my hair, scooping it back off my forehead. I focus on the sensation of her nails against my scalp.

“Harder,” I encourage, hoping the sharp bite of pain grounds me.

She does as I ask. Her nails pressing harder, but not as hard as I would like it.

It’s enough.

Her thigh is soft and warm to my cheek.

“Can someone come to corridor two, quickly?” I hear her say. I don’t know who she says it to. “It might not feel like it right now, Theo. But I promise you it gets better.”

We sit in silence. One stroke of her nails, breath in. Another stroke of her nails, breath out. I feel her abdomen move at the same pace. We’re breathing together, slowing everything down.

My head pounds less.

I place my arm over her thighs and hold on to her like she’s an anchor that can stop me drifting away.