Chapter 89: 'I've made many choices that's led to many accidents.'

ROSE

“Rum….” I dashed over and knelt beside him, rubbed his back to help him breathe. “Breathe, Rum… Breathe….”

“Ha!” He clutched the ground hard, as though begging it to give him some air, his knuckles turning white. “HA!”

I was lost. Frightened. What do we do when someone in front of you has a panic attack? Think, Rose. Think!

Air. He needs air. NO. His airways are blocked. He needs something to balloon them so air can go through.

I grabbed the sides of his face, but he pushed me away. “Leave me alone—.” He coughed and gasped deeply and heavily, as though someone had his hands around his neck. “Get the fuck away from me!”

“No….” I cried and grabbed his face once more, then covered his mouth with mine.

He tried to push at my shoulders—but I slid my hands around his head to the back and pushed it towards me just as his lips parted more and I sealed his mouth with mine.

Pain stung my throat from the inside, but I kept going, pressing my body against him so he’d breathe thr