Nightmare

She jolted awake suddenly, finding herself lost within darkness. She found herself tangled within the sheets, uncertain of what had caused her to awaken. Her confusion lasted only a moment before it came back to her. She couldn't bear the aching that tore through her body. It wasn't often that the nightmare haunted her dreams, but when it did, she was unprepared for the emotional onslaught that followed. She cried softly, hands fumbling on the bed sheets. She tried to untangle herself, but couldn't make her fingers work properly. Instead, she began to feel about, searching.

Fingers grazed a bare arm of the other occupant of the bed, which promptly jerked away. The body began to roll over and away from her, but seemed to change its mind at the last moment. Undaunted, she tried moving closer, seeking the comfort of the other. She gently laid her head against the other's chest, wanting comfort, but afraid to wake her. Instead, she listened closely to the soft snoring the other emitted, comforted in a strange way. She wasn't alone. The steady beating of the other's heart beat softly against her ear.

An image from the nightmare took over her train of thought, and she hid her face, wanting it to disappear. She couldn't handle reliving that day again and again. She didn't want to see the wreckage or her dying self. She didn't want to attend that funeral again. She tried to will the other girl to awaken, but it was no use. Once she was out, she usually slept like a rock, even sleeping through the morning alarm clock every morning without fail.

Pulling herself closer, she lay against the sleeping girl, drawing comfort from her warmth. The girl mumbled something in her sleep, smacking her lips. It had to be another food dream. She smiled softly at the dreamer. If only her own dreams could be so pleasant. She closed her eyes, trying to push beyond the nightmare and return to sleep. She'd be all right. She wasn't alone.

Sirens broke the comforting silence and she winced. They were gone as quickly as they'd come. She couldn't help but wonder what had called them out so late in the night. An accident? Would another make the choice between life or death? Her heart didn't want someone else to lose those closest to them. When you lost someone precious, you never forgot the effects of their love. And when you found someone precious… you never wanted to lose them.

A hand fell over her side and fingers curved into her back. The touch was light, barely pressing against her backside, but every now and then fingers tightened their grip. More garbled mumblings tumbled from her mouth for a moment before she began snoring once more. Though the sleeping girl didn't know it, her presence was one thing to bring comfort. No words needed to be exchanged between them in the darkness. They simply were, and that was all that mattered.