Page 46 of Serenade Me

Chapter Fifteen

Anca

It’s just me. And him.

Him. Marius.

Not Him… the Maes-…

No. Don’t say his name.

It’s Marius.

He’s sitting in front of me, my hands in his and he guides me.

He’s telling me to breathe.

He’s telling me I can do this.

He’s telling me I’m talented and beautiful and strong.

He’s telling me to breathe again.

Why do I keep forgetting to do that? He’s asking me, even as he’s laughing.

I can feel my mouth laughing with him.

Just as I can feel my heart pump so loud and fast in my chest, I think I need to hold my palms against my sternum to hold it in.

I can do this.

“I can do this,” I hear myself say out loud.

“Yes, you fucking well can.” He tells me again.

“No matter what anyone has said in the past,” I say, before I can stop myself.

There’s a flicker of a frown, but he lets it pass. His hands are on either side of my face.

“Deep breath, babe.”

I close my eyes and fill every single cavity of my lungs with air.

“Don’t worry about anyone else. Listen to me. Trust me. You are a fucking ROCK. STAR. Do you hear me?

“I hear you.” I hear every word, Marius.

“Just don’t forget to breathe.”

Just don’t forget to breathe, Anca.

Breathe. And forget.

Breathe, he mouths the word to me and nods.

I nod back.

It’s time.