Stephen pushes his glasses up his face and tries to clear his throat, but can't. He blinks once, slowly, then several more times, much more rapidly as he tries to breathe. 

This is actually quite a common occurance for Stephen; the inability to breathe whenever faced with one of his fears. So many people experience this symptom of being afraid, so Stephen knows he isn't alone, but in the times it happens… that doesn't ecessarily matter.

…

Madalyn hesitates before reaching out yet again and wrapping her hands around a vine. She yelps and yanks her hand away. Instead, she switches hands, and uses only her finger strength to pull away a vine. Her weak tugs do nothing. Perhaps she should try a bit more thin and weak vines.