Crossing a Line

We’re frozen.

Suspended in time. I can’t breathe, can’t think. My heart is pounding hard enough that I can hear it in my ears.

Tasha and I stare at each other, wide eyed and breathless, tying to smooth our faces so we don’t have the truth of our conversation written in our eyes.

She motions with her hands for me to take a deep breath, so I do.

I take a breath. Then another. I smooth my hands o