"Where is it?" he demanded.
In literature, a "beat" is a physical action that interrupts a line of dialogue. When a writer says "Lana swallowed," they are often using a physical reaction to signal that the character is: lana swallowed
It acts as a pause while the character absorbs a shock. "Where is it
Because "swallowing" is such a common physical cue for nervousness, it can become a "crutch phrase" if overused. To keep your writing fresh, try varying the physical reaction: Because "swallowing" is such a common physical cue
It felt like a stone sliding down her throat, scraping the dry walls of her esophagus. She coughed, her eyes watering, grabbing the plastic cup of stale water on the table and draining it in one desperate gulp to force the evidence down.
Lana stared at the bag. Her heart was hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The room felt airless. If she left the evidence, she was finished. If she destroyed it, there was a chance—albeit a desperate, insane one.