A voice broke through the fog in her mind.
“It’s all right,” said a man’s voice.
A hand touched her forehead, then her wrist. He straightened out her legs and body until she realized she must be lying down on the floor—no, the ground. Someone was here—where? Outside on the ground? She sensed the air against her skin, and his hands touching her, lifting her. Still she couldn"t move or speak. She barely could breathe as she fought to gasp air through a space like a straw in her swelling throat. She tried to get up, but he said to relax, and she tried to obey.
The struggle abated. Beth felt herself slip away and float into the air, where she hovered above her own body. It was dark, but she heard the man’s voice speaking soothing words. He was too far to reach.
“But I’m not finished yet,”
