“Sophie … Sophie? Look at me. Come back to me.” His soft voice brings me back to my senses, and I realize my legs are closed. My tense body held rigidly and curled up in the fetal position. He’s not inside me anymore, and somehow, I’m being cradled in his arms, my face turned away from him, gasping for breath. His arms are around my upper body as he cradles me tight against him and strokes the hair back from my tear-stained face.

“Just breathe, slow and steady. You’re ...