"I was more trouble than I was worth. They couldn't afford me," she corrects simply, and takes the joint. She can feel Laura tense beside her, hear the subtle difference in her breathing and, with some focusing, her heartbeat.

Athessa puts a hand on Laura's back beneath the blanket, gambling on whether or not it'll set her off.

"Breathe, Laura. You're ok. Breathe in, count to four--" She pairs Ciara's words from so long ago with a gentle motion to give Laura something to focus on. Up with the inhale, down with the exhale, in through the nose, out through the mouth. "--breathe out, count to four."