CHAPTER 61: JUST BREATHE, EMMA

"Ms. Stone, are you okay?" the teacher’s voice echoed, snapping Emma out of her daze.

Emma blinked rapidly, her vision slightly blurred. She had been trying to focus, but her head felt like it was spinning slowly.

"I’m... I’m fine," she said softly, managing to sit up straighter and look ahead.

The teacher nodded and gave a half-smile, but Emma could tell the concern hadn’t really left her eyes.

Trying to shake the dizziness, Emma continued with the question she had wanted to ask earlier. Her voice was low. She didn’t want to raise any suspicion.

From morning till that point, she had been feeling faint. Lightheaded. As if something heavy had settled at the back of her eyes and refused to lift. But she didn’t want to alarm anyone. She could handle it. She always did.

Class ended, and she gathered her books slowly. Every movement felt heavier than usual. She just wanted to get home, curl up on her bed, and sleep.

As she walked out of the lecture hall into the sun, her eyes scanned the area, and there she was again.

Sandra.

Waving at her like she had been waiting all day... As usual

Emma didn’t wave back.

Not because she was angry or trying to be mean... She just didn’t have the strength.

She sighed deeply and walked over to Sandra.

Sandra smiled warmly, but that smile slowly faded when she saw Emma’s tired eyes.

"Hey, sweetheart," Sandra greeted. "Rough day?"

Emma nodded, but didn’t return the same energy. Her voice was calm but firm.

"Listen, ma’am," she started. "You can’t keep coming here to see me like this. It’s... It’s starting to be too much."

Sandra looked surprised. "Too much?"

Emma quickly added, "I don’t mean to sound rude. You’ve been... nice. You’ve been really nice. But this whole thing... the visits, the waiting, the gifts... I just think you need to slow it down."

Sandra’s smile faded completely. "Okay... I’ll reduce it. But I won’t stop, Emma."

Emma looked confused. "What do you mean?"

Sandra placed her hand on her chest. "We’ve made some beautiful memories together. Even if you don’t see it the way I do, I feel like I’ve known you forever. Every time we talk, it’s like I’m getting back a piece of myself I lost. I just... I want to keep that going."

Emma’s heart sank a little. She could see the emotion in Sandra’s eyes. The hope. And the sadness that was carefully hidden beneath her smile.

"I understand," Emma said, quietly. "But just reduce it, okay? I need space."

Sandra swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay."

There was a pause. Then Sandra said, "Maybe we can sit and talk for just a little, before you go? You look like you could use a drink... maybe some shade?"

Emma shook her head gently. "No, it’s okay. I really need to go now."

Sandra was about to insist when Emma added quickly, "Some of my friends are waiting for me. We’re heading home together."

She gestured toward a group of three girls standing under the tree by the car park, chatting but occasionally looking in Emma’s direction.

Sandra followed her gaze and saw them.

Emma looked back at her. "Thanks for understanding."

Sandra tried to hide her disappointment. Emma’s words had been calm and respectful, but they still stung. She had hoped for more warmth... more connection. But instead, she was being told to pull back.

She nodded quietly. "Alright... I’ll leave now," she said in a steady and gentle voice. She turned to walk away, but before she could take a full step, it began.

A wave of dizziness hit Emma.

She blinked, stumbled slightly, and then gasped. Her chest was tightening, air slipping away from her lungs like someone was stealing it. Her hands trembled as she reached for her inhaler.

Sandra noticed immediately. "Emma?" she turned sharply. "Emma, are you okay?"

Emma didn’t answer. She was already shaking, and her breathing was fast and shallow. She brought out her inhaler with trembling fingers, put it to her lips, and inhaled.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

But it wasn’t working.

Sandra rushed to her side. "Emma! Look at me! Are you okay? Talk to me!"

Emma fell to her knees, then collapsed entirely.

"Somebody help!" Sandra screamed. "Please! Help! Call an ambulance!" She held Emma in her arms as her body trembled in gasps and fits.

Students from around the parking lot rushed over, some with shocked faces, others dialing emergency numbers with shaky hands. Emma’s friends, who had been waiting by the tree, sprinted toward her the moment they saw her fall.

"What happened?" one of them shouted.

"She’s having an asthma attack!" Sandra cried out.

One of the girls knelt beside her, dialing furiously. "Hello? Emergency? We need an ambulance right now. She’s not breathing well... she’s down!"

It didn’t take long.

Sirens echoed in the distance, growing louder. The bright red ambulance pulled up at speed. Two paramedics jumped out, one carrying an oxygen mask, the other a medical kit. They rushed to Emma, carefully pulling her away from Sandra’s arms.

"Step back, ma’am," one of them said.

Sandra, now shaking herself, backed away slowly. They fitted the oxygen mask over Emma’s nose and mouth, monitoring her pulse. Her breathing had slowed, but she was still weak, slipping between consciousness and a faint blur.

They lifted her onto the stretcher and wheeled her into the ambulance.

Her friends and Sandra ran behind them, but the paramedics motioned them to wait.

"Only one of you can come with us," one said.

"I’ll go," said her closest friend.

And with that, the doors shut, and the ambulance sped off, sirens wailing.

***

At the Hospital

The emergency room doors burst open. Nurses were already waiting.

"She’s sixteen," the paramedic informed. "Severe asthma attack. We gave her oxygen en route. Still unstable."

They wheeled her down the corridor, medical staff shouting instructions at one another.

"She’s still tachypneic, oxygen saturation’s low. Prep the nebulizer!"

Another nurse turned to her friend. "Are you family?"

"No," the girl replied nervously. "But... I know her brother."

The nurse nodded. "Call him. Now. We need consent if anything escalates."

The girl reached into Emma’s bag, found her phone, and opened it with trembling hands.

"Where’s his number... where’s his number..." she muttered, scrolling fast. She saw it: Alex (Big Bro 💙)... Then she hit call.