I felt it, suffocation. It came to me, slow and thick like a fog. I tried to breathe, but couldn't draw enough oxygen to keep me sane. There was no escaping, I began to fear that the panic would not abate. 

Wearily, I heaved myself from the dirty carpet.

I took a wary breath, testing my lungs capacity. 

Finding them to be capable of natural respiration, I resumed living.