And I was aware that my chest rose and fell too quickly, and that my body was coiled tight enough to break the bones within. Patrick saw that, too, and when the wall behind me began to crumble, giving way to my trembling hands, he held up both of his. “Shhh,” he whispered, suddenly inches away. He stroked my face once, twice. “Easy.” The walls cracked. “Nina, calm down. You’re all right.” But my head shook of its own accord, and a sound escaped my lips. And it seemed, though I didn’t know how, that he understood. “I’m all right, too,” he said instead. “Look at me, Nina. Nothing hit. I’m all
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