Zoe didn't even realise she hadn't been breathing till Liz gave her permission. She took a breath, thinking about the words nothing amiss. Took another breath. That particular bit of the world wasn't ending. Another breath and then a bite of cereal. For a very brief moment she considered the possibility of being able to handle things if things stayed as simple as just breathing and eating cereal but the moment after she'd thought it the feeling vanished. Things might not be amiss with Rachel but Zoe had still chucked Cai and thinking that thought was another hard punch in the stomach.
No wonder she kept forgetting to breathe. It was hard to fit any lungs at all around this ache in her middle.