Chapter 206 : Treading Water

*Shelby*

I sat in the cramped waiting room of the doctor's office, my palms moist with anxiety, my heart pounding in my chest. Beside me, Michael provided a reassuring presence, his touch bringing me comfort amidst the flurry of emotions. Ticking clocks and muted conversations echoed in the background, a symphony of nervous anticipation that threatened to consume me.

Drawing on the lessons I had learned in moments of distress, I knew that I needed to find a way to quiet the racing thoughts and steady my trembling nerves. With a deep inhale, I closed my eyes, blocked out the external distractions, and focused on the rhythm of my breath.

Inhale... exhale…. Inhale... exhale….

But the chaos of the waiting room made it challenging to find a sense of calm. The mixture of sounds seemed to intrude on my attempts at finding peace. Determined not to let the external environment overpower me, I delved deeper into my practice.

Inhale... exhale…. Inhale... exhale….