28
Ember’s Exam
Ember wished she could be with Will. He would be investigating on his day off, and she would report to the Solace Institute for her exam. She was nervous. She had never been to the building before. Her Alt was already showing distress so, as she sat in the waiting area, she practiced a 4-7-8 breathing technique. The breathing became a tranquilizer: she exhaled completely through her mouth, making a whooshing sound, then closed her mouth and inhaled quietly through her nose to a count of four. She held her breath—seven counts; she then exhaled through her mouth to a count of eight. Now she was more relaxed, and her Alt was responding by holding steady.
Her mother came to mind. She still grieved, still felt the vast loss, especially when she needed her mom, like now. She h
