Chapter 3 - Mireya’s Breathing Problems Had Started Looking Strangely Predictable
Mireya did not have constant severe attacks.
Most days she was energetic.
She ran.
Danced.
Climbed furniture when nobody was looking.
But certain triggers could cause rapid breathing trouble.
Respiratory infections.
Heavy pollen.
Strong fragrances.
Sometimes intense crying.
Over the previous two months, however, Margaret noticed a strange pattern.
Mireya’s episodes seemed to happen most often when Tove was responsible for her.
Tove always had an explanation.
“She worked herself up.”
“She wanted Cullen.”
“She knows wheezing gets attention.”
At first, even Cullen began to wonder whether anxiety was part of the problem.
The pulmonologist agreed emotions could worsen breathing.
But he said something Tove repeatedly omitted afterward:
That does not mean the breathing difficulty is imaginary.
Margaret wrote that sentence down.
Tove hated it.
Because she had already begun building a different story.
Not that Mireya had asthma-like respiratory symptoms.
May you like
That Mireya had learned to use them.
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