“I take a deep breath,count to ten,and bury it,way down deep”
“Think before you speak. Take a deep breath, people suggested. Count to ten. Count sheep. Oh, wait, that was for sleeping. Even in her own head, her tongue ran ahead of her brain. It propelled her into all sorts of absurd situations. Elopements. Scandals. This.”
“I take a deep breath. It smells suspiciously like bullshit in here.”
“You are where you need to be. Just take a deep breath.”
“Take a deep breath, open your eyes, and close the book.”
“Deep breaths. I am taking deep breaths. Composure. Which, for me, means composing... Maybe this is my way of creating the illusion of control over something I have no control over. Like, if it's just a story I'm telling or a song I'm singing, then I'll be okay because I'm the guy who's providing the words.”