Her heart was racing and she tried desperately to suck in air, shaking as she imagined a wall forming between her and the world rising up to the sky. Too many. Too many people, too many sounds, too many sights, too many, too many, too many—arms wrapped around her and her mother's voice came softly. Gentle instructions, gentle explanations. We're leaving, see? We're leaving right now. Breathe in for ten, through your nose and out your mouth. There's the maanru, let's get in now, small step, Shiala will drive. Breathe in through your nose, just like that. Close your eyes. There we are. Just listen to me, no one else. Liara is breathing, but far too little and far too much. Her head pounds, her back and stomach ache and she doubles up. Hands up on the sides of her head, crying. Trying not to cry, she's not a baby anymore, she's not a child; she is in control. She's not in control, she's not in control. Liara feels her heart skip a beat before going twice as hard, maybe it's a heart attack. This is how she'll die is in her mother's arms, and mother will be sad, and mother will hate her for it. Please don't hate me! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Benezia wraps her shawl around them as if blocking out the galaxy, filtering the light into a muted yellow hue, protecting. The glow of her biotics holding it helps to calm Liara, watching the waves and patterns as she starts to calm down. I ruin everything. The tears and choking come back full force, rocking and holding it in. Hold it in, I'm sorry, just stop it, I can't stop, I can't stop, breathe, breathe, breathe.
Mother holds her tightly and whispers softly, and keeps the world away with nothing but her love. Loving always, loving always.