there’s something about the way the body starts to shut down without air that is just so delicious. the initial fight, the tears welling up as their mouth opens, desperate gasps as your grip tightens. hands clawing uselessly, the hits getting weaker and less coordinated as their eyes start to glaze over. the way their body bucks, legs kicking aimlessly as their face twitches involuntarily, their brain sending any signal they can to try and achieve the end goal of a single, aching breath. the final wave of strength they get before their brain shuts down completely, eyelids fluttering as their eyes roll back, arms limp at their side.
you take a moment to admire them, in all their pliant, mailable glory, before you pinch off their nose and tilt their head back, blowing the air you’d denied back into them so you can start the process again.