Breathe In, Breathe Out
T hese shorts are written as practices in writing and all are unedited and are not proofread. Breathe in, breathe out. Steady, slowly, through the nose, maybe through the mouth. Every nerve in my body is on end, the rustling of my chin against my coat is loud. Breathe in, breathe out. The sound of my own breathing is the loudest sound, my heart beats in my ears like a drum in the heat of a song. Breathe in, breathe out. I focus on getting my eyes to dilate, I need to see what is around me in this dark place. Breathe in, breathe out. The shapes start to be visible, a beam of wood there, an old musty carpet on the floor, and even a cabinet against the wall. The coat is loud, my every movement causing a cacophony of sound to be absorbed by the quiet. Breathe in, breathe out. A creak from the floor beneath me as I shift my weight nearly makes me jump back against the wall. I can still feel the wall, against my left hand. It is the only reason I know where I...