Whumperless Whump event

Day 5: Just Breathe Just Breathe Just Breathe Just Breathe- (Psych 2006)

Summary: Shawn was just having fun climbing a tree. How was he supposed to know what a dead branch looked like?

Notes: based on yet another irl event in my life

Whumperless Whump event day 5

Ship: none

Word Count: 335

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1985

"Gus! Look how high I am!"  Shawn waved to his best friend from on top a tree branch.

"Can you get down, Shawn? You're starting to make me really nervous." Gus called up from the ground.

Shawn chose to ignore Gus, and instead grabbed another branch. He hugged the limb and swung his legs around as well. Hi slung himself upside down so he looked like a koala climbing the tree. "Gus! Look at me!"

"No wait Shawn don't-!"

A tiny snap stopped Shawn. Then there was another snap. And another, and another. Then a loud POP broke the air, and the branch Shawn was hanging off of splintered away from the tree.

Shawn didn't have time to scream. He landed on his back hard. The force of the impact caused the air in his lungs to leave with an oomf.

"Shawn! Shawn!" Gus' voice was faint. But from the corner of his eye he could see him just fine. Which was strange, it looked like he was yelling. But why was his voice so soft?

Dazed and confused, Shawn tried to take a deep breath.

But nothing happened.

He tried harder, his mouth gaping like a fish out of water.

Nothing. Not a single wisp of air entered his lungs.

The lack of oxygen made Shawn panic. He strained his throat muscles, desperate for some air. Why was this one simple task so hard all of a sudden?

All he needed was to breathe.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

"Shawn!" He faintly heard his dad's voice in the distance. Not even a second later he was being picked up and sat in an upright position. Henry's face entered his vision, which was slowly getting fuzzier.

"Hey, hey hey hey. It's alright, calm down. You're gonna be alright Shawn."

If he was okay, then why couldn't he just breathe? No, he wasn't okay. His eyesight was getting fuzzier and fuzzier, slowly beginning to descend into black.

Why couldn't he just breathe?

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Notes: This one was also based on a real life event. Two, actually. Technically, this happened to my brother. I just watched. However, he didn't get the wind knocked out of him, that's what makes it different. I, however, did, on a completely separate occasion. I don't actually remember what happened, but the feeling of getting the wind knocked out of you isn't exactly something you can easily forget.