alifornia poses a threat to Ara's sanity and sexuality. Already balancing a life filled with grief and anger, an alcoholic father and dead mother, Ara's obsession with the new girl grows to be quite consuming. After befriending one another, the two become inseparable and spend the summer reveling in their youth. But once feelings surface and bloom, there is no denying the apocalyptic consequences of their desire. With a runaway plot in the making, wicked dreams tantalizing Ara, and coming to terms with identity; These heavy lungs we breathe with is a queer novel that explores the darkest regions of young love and death. What will happen when two girls will stop at nothing to be together?