John B had always had chronic nightmares since he was a young boy. He remembered sitting up in the middle of the night with teary eyes as he crawled out of bed to stumble to his father’s room. He would wipe his tears when he would hear his father turning in the bed to support him up. Asking him, “What’s wrong, Bird? Another nightmare? Well, your old man is here for you.”

Ever since his dad’s disappearance, they had gotten worst. He knew he got them more frequently when he was stressed or in a more negative mental state. But, it seemed they were always filled with his dad’s face drowning, his limbs struggling as he fought for air and the safety of getting back to his son. Or, about the last time they had ever talked, it was because of an argument and John B never got to say goodbye.

Then, you came along. Well—you were already in his life from the start, but just as a friend. Now, he curled up in his sheets with his lover. The dark blue comforter surrounding their bodies as you made his house a home. The light smell of your scenting on his items, your bare legs tangled up with his as he could feel your body heat. You made him properly safe at night.