Without realizing it, Teresa did what the girl suggested. She took a long, shaky breath and let it out slowly. She felt completely ridiculous doing it too, like she was part of some crazy social experiment in the middle of a crowded supermarket. It didn't help her feel better, but at least she was breathing. That's it. That was all she had to do. Just focus on what she could control and let everything else fade into the background.
It took her a moment to compose herself, all the while trying to avoid the way everyone who walked in was looking at her. She couldn't say for sure whether that caused her more anxiety or more anger, but it definitely wasn't helping her feel better knowing that strangers were silently judging her. "Yeah," she managed to say after a moment. But there was no way to explain what was happening to her. At least, she couldn't put it into words.
"I'm fine," she added a little breathy. "I, uhm... didn't mean to run into you. It was an accident." Had she said that already? Was she being weird? "Man, I feel like such a shank right now."