ARIA
“I think something worse just happened,” I whispered.
The words barely made it past my lips, but the fear behind them was loud enough to drown my thoughts. My chest tightened, and suddenly, it felt like the air around me had thinned. I pressed my palm against my stomach as my breathing became uneven, shallow, and frantic.
Savon was on his feet instantly.
“Aria, calm down,” he said firmly, yet gently, moving closer. He placed both hands on my shoulders, grounding me. “Look at me. Take a deep breath. Just calm down.”
“I cannot,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Something is wrong. I can feel it. Why is she asking me not to check my phone?”
“You are panicking,” he said softly. “Nothing good comes from panic. Breathe with me, okay?”
He inhaled slowly, exaggerating the movement so
