Page 173 of Before Dawn

“Alright,” he said gently. “We’re going to try something. Follow my lead,mi amor.102”

He rubbed his hands along mine, grounding me for just a second before he spoke again. “Tell me three things you can see.”

I blinked at him, my mind still racing.

“Three things,” he said softly. “Anything. Just look around and tell me.”

My eyes darted across the room. “The… the lamp. Your glasses. The pillows.”

“Good,” he said, his voice a soothing balm. “Tell me three things you can hear.”

“Your breathing,” I whispered. “The ceiling fan. And…” I hesitated, closing my eyes. “Your voice.”

Mikkel nodded, brushing a thumb over the back of my hand. “Perfect. Now move three body parts. Can you do thatfor me?”

I swallowed and nodded, flexing my fingers, rolling my shoulders, and wiggling my toes beneath the blanket.

“You’re doing so well, Red.” Relief softened his face. “Can you breathe with me now? In for four, hold for four, out for four.”

I matched his pace as he counted, his tone calm. My chest was still tight, but breathing came easier. I clung to his hand, grounding myself.

When the worst of the storm passed, my breath steadied, and exhaustion settled in, my shoulders sinking with relief.

“Feeling better?” Mikkel asked softly, brushing the back of his fingers against my cheek.

I nodded, unable to say much more than, “A little.”

“Do you want to go sit by the window?” he offered. “Get some air?”

I shook my head immediately. “I just want to stay here.”

“Okay,” he said quickly. “That’s okay.”

He sat up against the headboard, pulled me close, and pressed a lingering kiss to my head as he spoke. “I’m right here with you, and we’ll do whatever you need.”

I closed my eyes, focusing on the sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear, but Mikkel wasn’t done yet. He rubbed circles into my back, whispering soft reassurances:I was safe, it would pass, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

When that didn’t fully calm me, he gently placed my hand on his chest. “Feel that? I’m breathing with you, baby. We’ll take it one breath at a time.”

When my shoulders tensed again, he murmured, “Wanna hear a story? Something to distract you?”

I nodded faintly against him.

He started sharing memories from his childhood in the Dominican Republic—climbing mango trees with Emilia and sneaking bites ofhabichuelas guisadasorbuñueloswhen their parents weren’t looking.

“Did you get caught?”

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “Never. We played it cool, but deep down, we thought they knew.”

The storm hadn’t disappeared completely, but Mikkel held me steadyas the waves crashed. He didn’t let me drown. Heneverlet me drown.

As I finally started to drift off, Mikkel pressed another kiss to my hair and whispered, “I’m proud of you, baby.So proud.You’re gonna be okay.” We stayed there for a moment longer, just breathing together, until my eyelids grew heavy.

The next morning, I checked the clock and saw it was past twelve. I hadn’t realized I’d slept so late. Panic crept in, but then I remembered it was my day off. I relaxed back into the pillow, letting the tension melt away. That’s when I noticed a note on the nightstand.

I had to leave early for a meeting. Call me when you’re awake.

Love, Mikkel.

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