Page 81 of Running to You

How could she have…?

What kind of person…?

What kind of mother…?

She stepped back, bumped into a display. Sucked in a breath. Another.

Levi.

Where was he? What had she done?

“Eliza. Hey.” Sam gripped her arms. “What is it?”

She couldn’t get enough air. Couldn’t breathe.

Lost her footing. Was swooped up. Carried, but she didn’t know where. Didn’t care. Because…

Levi.

She was set down, lowered to a seat.

“Exhale, Eliza. We need a…a paper bag or something.”

Darkness was pressing in. There was no oxygen. Her lungs exploded with need of it.

Someone shook her shoulders. “Open your eyes. Open your eyes, Eliza.”

She did, and Sam was right there, his expression no longer angry but afraid.

“You need to exhale. Come on.” He inhaled then blew the air out. “With me, sweetheart. Breathe with me.”

She tried, blew as hard as she could. And sucked in more air. Sweet oxygen.

“Again. Focus on my voice. Nothing else.” He blew out a breath, and she did too.

Someone held out a bag to him, but he ignored it. “Again. Blow out really hard.”

She matched her breathing to his. Over and over until the dizziness passed. The black receded.

Sam sat back on his heels and ran his handkerchief across his sweating forehead, a million questions in his gaze.

What was she going to tell him?

How could she possibly explain?

“Are you all right?” The concern in his expression had her eyes filling.

She might be breathing again, but she was far from all right.

Because memories were crashing over her like waves in a storm, sweeping her legs out from under her, pulling her into deep, deep water.

She might never take a full breath again.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sam forced his mouth shut, trying to give Eliza all the space she needed for…for whatever was happening.

And maybe he shouldn’t have come at her with such anger.