The Nightmare
By: Stacy L.
CATEGORY: Angst, Drama, POV
TABLE FIC PROMPT: 052. Die
WARNINGS: Mention of character death
COMPLETED:
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story was written in response to a table fic prompt from the LiveJournal 100_situations challenge community.
My hands are slick and
as I glance at them I notice that they're covered in red. I try to make sense
of what I'm seeing. I turn my hands over and notice that even the palms are
covered. I shake my head before turning to gaze at what, or rather who, lies
before me. I notice that he too has red on him; he's covered in it. It's
everywhere.
Focusing intently on him I notice that he isn't moving. He's so very still. I
shake my head again telling myself that he must be asleep. He has to be asleep,
but as I lean in closer my heart feels as if it is splitting, cracking in two.
I draw in a sharp breath reaching hesitantly towards him. He has to be asleep.
He has to be!
I shake him gently, but he doesn't react. There's no movement, no twitching of
his limbs, no mumbling to let him sleep just a few moments longer, no shifting
his position...nothing. He's just lying there still and lifeless. I lean in
closer unconsciously pressing my finger against his neck searching for a pulse,
closing my eyes, clenching them tightly shut as I fear the worst. My breath
hitches in my throat as I'm certain I feel a faint heartbeat but as I check for
breathing I discover there's none. I refuse to accept what my mind is telling
me and begin to shake him again, this time rougher than before. I try to
convince myself again that he's just deep asleep and again I notice that he's
not moving. He's not breathing, and he feels cold, so very cold to the touch.
I swallow hard choking back the tears threatening to come, threatening to pour
down over my cheeks and force my panic to remain at bay. I try to deny the
truth of what I know but my heart fills with dread, my soul cries out and I
shatter into a thousand tiny pieces...
I jump awake, a scream on my lips, gazing wildly about me. I'm afraid. I'm
scared. I believe I'm alone then suddenly I feel hands on my face smoothing
back my hair. I feel a warm body pressed firmly against me and hear a soft
voice tinged with concern speaking soothingly to me, but I'm afraid to turn.
I'm afraid of what I'll see there.
The voice begins to register: soft, persistent...my name. Arms wrap around me
and pull me close. I hear the sound of a heartbeat beneath my ear, HIS
heartbeat, and I begin to relax. I turn slightly inhaling deeply of his scent
my arms moving to grip him to me, and I close my eyes as an overwhelming sense
of relief fills me. He's alive. Thank God he's alive.
I hold him close never wanting to let him go. As if he senses my need he
tightens his hold further on me and softly whispers that it's all right, that
I'm all right. I'm grateful for the spoken reassurance and settle further
against him.
As he holds me late into the night and seconds turn into lengthy drawn out
minutes it's he who breaks the silence first, "Tell me about your dream,
Jack."
I hesitate, afraid to put voice to what occurred in the nightmare. He responds
by pressing a tender kiss to my forehead before continuing in a softer tone of
voice, "Take your time, Jack. Take all the time you need. I'm here for
you. I'm here."
I respond to his request by closing my eyes and drawing in the strength to
retell the nightmare as I release a silent thank you to the air.
I'm here for you...
Yes he's here for me. He's HERE.
** The End
**
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