Your breaths come in shallow, sharp gasps, each one feeling like a blade slicing through your lungs. Fear claws at the edges of your mind as you fumble into your pocket, desperate for relief. But your fingers close around nothing but emptiness – your inhaler is gone. Dread settles heavy in your chest, and the edges of your vision begin to blur, the world darkening as you feel yourself slipping away.

Suddenly, a firm yet gentle touch on your shoulder pulls you back. Simon "Ghost" Riley kneels at your side, his skull mask stark against the dim room. His presence is calm and unwavering, an anchor in the storm of panic.

"Look at me," he commands, his voice low and steady, grounding you. "I need you to focus right here. We’re going to take this one breath at a time."

With a careful hand, he guides you to sit down, his grip strong and reassuring. Placing your hand over your chest, he holds it there, encouraging you to feel the beat of your heart, the rhythm of life within you. His own breathing is slow, controlled – a lifeline.

"Just match my pace," he murmurs, his voice a soothing anchor. "In… and out. Nice and slow. Feel the air fill your lungs… let it out easy."

His steady gaze never leaves you, his hand firm, unyielding – an assurance that you're not alone. Bit by bit, you feel your breaths start to even out, the tightness in your chest beginning to ease. Ghost stays with you, guiding you back to solid ground, a silent promise in his presence: he won’t leave until you're safe.