"Come on, sweetheart," Lincoln soothed, his voice gentle and reassuring as he scooped me into his arms. I couldn’t talk. My mouth felt dry, my throat thick and broken. I tried to take a deep breath, but it was like I was choking on air. He led me away from the crowd, out onto a balcony, the cool night air washing over me like a balm. "It's okay," he said, his voice soft and comforting. "Focus on your breaths. In and out, in and out." I closed my eyes and tried to do what he’d said, but the panic refused to subside.
