TAKING A DEEP BREATH
Jack took a deep breath, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed Lily's number. He was determined to steel himself, to speak if she answered the call. He had to overcome the strange sensation that had always left him mute in her presence, an inexplicable barrier between his thoughts and his words.
Jack leaned across a wall, his posture calm and carefree, a contrast to the turbulence rummaging in his mind.
Staring at his phone as it rang, the receiver ID displayed Lily's name. His heart raced as if it were trying to break free from his chest. He couldn't believe how he could be so utterly speechless whenever he heard Lily's voice. It was the same experience he had last night when she answered, a sense of paralysis taking over him, rendering him unable to speak. It was as if his tongue was tied, leaving him fumbling for words, unable to articulate what he wanted to say.
