My adrenaline was spiked, but had nowhere to go. I felt like I was buzzing out of my skin.
I was shaking, but didn’t know how to calm down.
At once, Julian and Nicholas moved toward me. They each took one of my hands. Nicholas placed my hand over his heart.
“Breathe with me,” he said, and guided me. “Inhale.” He waited. “Exhale.”
Julian covered my hands with both of his. He rubbed his thumbs in small circles on the back of my palm.
They both anchored me to the here and now, rather than letting me float off among my fears and worries, and I was grateful for each of them.
“You alright?” Nicholas asked, after a few more breathing exercises.
I wasn’t shaking anymore. “I’m getting there.”
Nicholas nodded, but he kept my hand on his chest. Julian didn’t let go of my hands either.
Though
