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Breathing Through Her Head
I am eating lunch with my friend Marlena; it's been a while since we've gotten together. Snow is coming down outside the window of the Little Bakery.
“I thought last week's snow would be the end of it,” she says. But here it is one more time I sure hope this is the last.”
“At least it's a light one,” I say. “Doesn't seem to be sticking much.”
“Yeah, I know. But I want flowers! I'm so ready for spring.” Her brow if furrowed; she looks pained.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Just my sinuses acting up. In that regard, spring is starting now.”
“I'm sorry,” I say. She looks uncomfortable.
“Well, nothing to do about it. Antihistamines help sometimes, but I don't have anything with me. Anyway, I don't like to take stuff unless I have to.”
I sit there a minute, thinking about whether I should change the subject, which might be enough of a distraction that she'll feel better. But I decide instead to see if I can help her.
“Would you like to feel better?” I ask.
“Sure, of course I would.”
“Ok then, let's do this. It might seem a little strange at first, but just do it and we'll see how it works.”
“Close your eyes and focus on the exact spot where the pain is,” I tell her.
Marlena closes her eyes and sighs she is used to humoring me.
“Now,” I continue, “with your next breath in, imagine or pretend that the air is coming directly into that spot. Focus on breathing right into that spot.”
She nods.
“Keep breathing that way, directly into the center of it, feel the air coming in right through the skin, through the bones, and right into that area.”
She does, for 30 or so seconds, then another 30. She sniffles a little. “I think it's starting to drain,” she says, surprised.
“Yes, that often happens when you do this. Keep breathing into it.”
Another minute goes by, with a few more sniffles. Marlena nods, then smiles. “Damned if it doesn't feel better,” she says.
“Great. This is what I do, if I feel a little headache coming on. If it comes back later, do it again.”
“Thanks.” She smiles, then looks around. “How long's it take to get our food in this place?”
