--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She hit the button again, holding her…" description: "\"“She hit the button again, holding her breath this time until she heard it. Soft, sibilant, as insubstantial as the breaths that came before: Shannon. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/jane-taylor-starwood-54566_paper-bag_she-hit-the-button-again-holding-her-bre_1807307.jpg" --- # She hit the button again, holding her breath this time… ![“She hit the button again, holding her breath this time until she heard it. Soft, sibilant, as insubstantial as the breaths that came before: Shannon. The voice whispered Shannon. The blood rushed out of her head. Her heart knocked hard in her chest. Her knees buckled and she grabbed the counter to…” quote by Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/jane-taylor-starwood-54566_paper-bag_she-hit-the-button-again-holding-her-bre_1807307.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/jane-taylor-starwood-54566_paper-bag_she-hit-the-button-again-holding-her-bre_1807307.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d4/jane-taylor-starwood-54566_paper-bag_she-hit-the-button-again-holding-her-bre_1807307.jpg) > ““She hit the button again, holding her breath this time until she heard it. Soft, sibilant, as insubstantial as the breaths that came before: Shannon. The voice whispered Shannon. The blood rushed out of her head. Her heart knocked hard in her chest. Her knees buckled and she grabbed the counter to keep from falling. She was starting to hyperventilate, had to calm it down before she was taken by a full-blown panic attack. Paper bag. Think. Think! Drawer below the silverware, next to the sink. Over the nose and mouth. Breathe slowly, slowly. Holding the bag against her face, Shane slid to the floor with her back against the cabinets, legs splayed, lungs heaving. It couldn’t be him. It couldn’t be Jordan. Jordan was dead.”” [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character battles panic, using breathing techniques to regain control while confronting grief and fear of loss. **In simple terms:** She fights panic with breathing and focus. Key Takeaway Use breathing to calm panic attacks. Themes anxiety grief self‑control Mood tense urgent reflective Type narrative dramatic psychological When to use this quote - hospital - emergency - personal loss - mental health crisis Key Concepts panic attack breathing exercise psychological coping Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your panic? - How can you prepare for sudden anxiety? A Different Perspective Breathing may not stop underlying trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) [Panic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panic/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Suspense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspense/) [Thrillers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrillers/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I was struck to my heart and through my heart, knocked clean out of my ordinary life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-was-struck-to-my-heart-and-through-my-heart-knocked-clean-out-of-my/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“My breaths came fast as the mist trailed through my body, strengthening and healing, pulsating and throbbing. I held my hands out with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketley-allison/my-breaths-came-fast-as-the-mist-trailed-through-my-body/) Ketley Allison > [“It was nice to hear your breaths as they came and went, something quiet and close, keeping me from feeling so alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiera-cass/it-was-nice-to-hear-your-breaths-as-they-came-and-went-something/) [Kiera Cass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiera-cass/) > [“She closed her eyes briefly, feeling sick. Olivia had experienced strangulation before. Having to look directly into the face of the person who was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-parrish/she-closed-her-eyes-briefly-feeling-sick-olivia-had-experienced/) [Leslie Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-parrish/) > [“Would you believe I was in the neighborhood?” “No." “Well, how about that I needed to see you.” “Why? Did one of my neighbors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-parrish/would-you-believe-i-was-in-the-neighborhood-no-well-how-about-that-i/) [Leslie Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-parrish/) > [“Jordan loomed over her and a flash of light blinded her momentarily. The knife. Shane felt her newfound courage faltering, felt herself falling back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/jordan-loomed-over-her-and-a-flash-of-light-blinded-her-momentarily/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“That’s when it hit him with the force of a fastball in the chest: He was falling in love with Shane MacKinnon. He hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/that-s-when-it-hit-him-with-the-force-of-a-fastball-in-the-chest-he/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“She didn’t know Matt had followed her until he grabbed her shoulder, halting her headlong rush to nowhere. He turned her into his arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/she-didn-t-know-matt-had-followed-her-until-he-grabbed-her-shoulder/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“Our marriage lasted a few months. Once you left, what remained faded faster than the ink on the license. And what's left..well, it could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-milan/our-marriage-lasted-a-few-months-once-you-left-what-remained-faded/) [Courtney Milan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-milan/) > [Tessa exhaled. She hadn't realized that she had been holding her breath until that moment. Will must have heard her, for he raised his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/tessa-exhaled-she-hadn-t-realized-that-she-had-been-holding-her/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Now as she sat in the candlelight waiting for his reaction, her chest hurt from holding her breath, expecting the worst, hoping for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynette-chambers/now-as-she-sat-in-the-candlelight-waiting-for-his-reaction-her-chest/) Lynette Chambers > [“The small Japanese immortal sat cross-legged, his two swords resting flat on the ground before him. He folded his hands in his lap, closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-small-japanese-immortal-sat-cross-legged-his-two-swords-resting/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [What if the world is holding its breath - waiting for you to take the place that only you can fill?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/what-if-the-world-is-holding-its-breath-waiting-for-you-to-take-the/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [If you're throwing punches or exerting energy but you're not breathing, you're holding your breath. That actually saps your strength, it saps your stamina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-jr/if-you-re-throwing-punches-or-exerting-energy-but-you-re-not/) [Chris Eubank Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-jr/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) 404 Ink ## More by Jane Taylor Starwood > [“Soon you catch your first glimpse of a vineyard basking in the sun, its broad leaves silently turning sunlight into sugar, ripening vitis vinifera,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/soon-you-catch-your-first-glimpse-of-a-vineyard-basking-in-the-sun/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“Ralph, escort Ms. MacKinnon to get her stuff. Come right back out, and don't touch anything near the crime scene. I won't. Oh, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/ralph-escort-ms-mackinnon-to-get-her-stuff-come-right-back-out-and/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“She didn’t know Matt had followed her until he grabbed her shoulder, halting her headlong rush to nowhere. He turned her into his arms,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/she-didn-t-know-matt-had-followed-her-until-he-grabbed-her-shoulder/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“That’s when it hit him with the force of a fastball in the chest: He was falling in love with Shane MacKinnon. He hardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/that-s-when-it-hit-him-with-the-force-of-a-fastball-in-the-chest-he/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) > [“Jordan loomed over her and a flash of light blinded her momentarily. The knife. Shane felt her newfound courage faltering, felt herself falling back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-taylor-starwood/jordan-loomed-over-her-and-a-flash-of-light-blinded-her-momentarily/) [Jane Taylor Starwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) [Explore all 6 Jane Taylor Starwood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-taylor-starwood/) ## More Breaths quotes > [Don't let a breath escape from your body without Krishna's name. That should be our determination throughout our life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/don-t-let-a-breath-escape-from-your-body-without-krishna-s-name-that/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [Jazz is the music of the body. The breath comes through brass. It is the body's breath, and the strings' wails and moans are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/jazz-is-the-music-of-the-body-the-breath-comes-through-brass-it-is/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Many years ago I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realised, 'I am killing him - all for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/many-years-ago-i-was-fishing-and-as-i-was-reeling-in-the-poor-fish-i/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [God is greater than anything that man can do or has done. He is not undone by just a train of powder. "Our God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-morris/god-is-greater-than-anything-that-man-can-do-or-has-done-he-is-not/) [Errol Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-morris/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Dave Wann's recipes from his own experience in Simple Prosperity are a breath of fresh air, and just what we need for a saner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-henderson/dave-wann-s-recipes-from-his-own-experience-in-simple-prosperity-are/) [Hazel Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-henderson/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [The river is motion, turmoil, rage. As the river flows, it wonders what it would be like to be so still, to take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kekla-magoon/the-river-is-motion-turmoil-rage-as-the-river-flows-it-wonders-what/) [Kekla Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kekla-magoon/) > [Remember that no matter how selfish, how cruel, how unfeeling you have been today, every time you take a breath, you make a flower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mort-sahl/remember-that-no-matter-how-selfish-how-cruel-how-unfeeling-you-have/) [Mort Sahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mort-sahl/) > [The trees are white with dust, that o'er their sleep Wave their broad curtains in the south-wind's breath, While underneath such leafy tents they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/the-trees-are-white-with-dust-that-o-er-their-sleep-wave-their-broad/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [“Listen to this, Nimit. Follow Coleman Hawkins' improvised lines very carefully. He is using them to tell us something. Pay very close attention. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/listen-to-this-nimit-follow-coleman-hawkins-improvised-lines-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Every body resisted (the slaughterer) in its own fashion, tried to escape and seemed to argue with the Creator to its last breath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/every-body-resisted-the-slaughterer-in-its-own-fashion-tried-to/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Browse all 1,609 Breaths quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaths/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She hit the button again, holding her breath this time until she heard it. Soft, sibilant, as insubstantial as the breaths that came before: Shannon. The voice whispered Shannon. The blood rushed out of her head. Her heart knocked hard in her chest. Her knees buckled and she grabbed the counter to keep from falling. She was starting to hyperventilate, had to calm it down before she was taken by a full-blown panic attack. Paper bag. Think. Think! Drawer below the silverware, next to the sink. Over the nose and mouth. Breathe slowly, slowly. 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