It was just one of those nights. Normally she slept straight through, but tonight…she couldn’t.
Kate woke up at 2:03am screaming. She was terrified. She had woken up from one of her more common reoccurring nightmares. Not again. Please no. I don’t want to drown. She continued screaming to the point that a certain gentleman, who had actually been sleeping in his room a few doors down, came running into her bedroom.
“Kate? What’s wrong? Another nightmare?” She didn’t answer him. Kate had thrown the covers off in her panic and was thrashing about, still screaming. He sighed and slowly walked over. She worries me at times like this. Reese slowly sat down on the bed and started talking to her.
“Kate. It’s Reese. You’re safe. It was just a nightmare. I promise. You’re safe.” He moved just a little closer to her on the rather large bed.
She shook her head adamantly and kept crying. “No. I was drowning. I don’t want to drown. I don’t want to.”
“That’s just it. Was. You WERE, but you aren’t. It was a bad dream, a nightmare, nothing more. In plain terms it wasn’t real. No matter how much it seemed, it was a dream that you are now out of. Which means…you’re safe.” Reese moved just a smidge closer each time he spoke.
Kate stopped her screaming, but not her crying. This was a nightmare she’d had since childhood. It never seemed to go away. ‘An odd contradiction for someone who’s element is water, her mind added.’ But nonetheless, still frightening.
Reese scooted a little closer once more. “You’re home. You’re safe.” He paused, letter her take this in. “Would it be alright if I hugged you? I’m asking you know.”
Kate nodded, still rattled and crying from the dream.
Reese lightly hugged her and pulled her into him. And when I first met her she didn’t want anyone touching her in any way. Lucky for me I’ve become an exception. Though, she has changed in some aspects. She’s grown. Regardless, she’s still the same woman I met that day. He held her tightly in his embrace.
“I was drowning in the ocean. But then it turned into a swimming pool. In the end it had become a bathtub. I just couldn’t manage to get up to the surface. It was like something was pushing me down. I couldn’t breathe. I could barely think. I didn’t know what to do. It terrified me. I thought I was going to die.” Kate leaned into Reese, her conscious mind coming back.
He smiled. “But you didn’t. You’re here. Alright? Now come on. Let’s get some sleep. Would you like me to stay?” Sometimes, with dreams like this, it was better for someone to be there. Reese learned this the hard way – when she had more than one in the same night.
Kate nodded and he picked her up. Reese carried her into the master bedroom, his bedroom. It was large, larger than the room he had given to Kate. It had a high ceiling, walls covered by furniture, and what space was left had random photographs scatted about. Actually, that had been Kate’s suggestion. She had told him that his walls were too bare and that it reminded her of an insane asylum. And despite all the jokes about both of them being crazy, that was not his goal. So she helped him place memories in his room.
It didn’t take very long for Kate to fall asleep once they got into his bed. She usually felt more comfortable there, so Reese had noticed. Sometimes he wondered why she didn’t just move into his room. Then he remembered that if he rushed it, he might push her away. Regardless, she was beautiful when she was sleeping.
