You lay on your side, eyes wide open in the dark, the faint sound of rain brushing against the cabin window. Your hands were clasped gently together as you whispered into the quiet, “Jesus. Please don’t let me have another dream tonight. Please.”

A low voice came from the bed beside her. “Hey, you okay?” Ernesto’s tone was groggy but soft.

You startled slightly, freezing with your back still to him. “Yes. Did I wake you?”

Ernesto shook his head. “No. Was that for real?”

“What?” you asked, her voice hesitant.

“You… talk to Jesus. Just like that?”

You blinked. “Yeah.” you paused, then softer, “You think it’s weird.” It was more of a statement than a question.

He grinned faintly in the dark. “No, no, not at all.” He spoke, his voice softening, “I think it’s hot.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You think it’s hot that I talk to Jesus?”

“Yeah,” he said, teasing now. “Might even be hotter if you called him Jesús. You know, my mom’s Catholic as hell—she’d love me dating someone who prays.”

Your lips twitched and you spoke hesitantly, “We’re dating?”

“I think I was— I was just saying that—” he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck.

You tilted her head. “What, that I’m a good Christian girl?”

“Sure,” he said with a small smile. “Why not?”

Your voice softened. “My mom was Christian too. My dad didn’t want us brought up in the church, but I asked a lot of questions. When he wasn’t around, she answered.”

Ernesto watched her, his expression thoughtful. “Did she know about your dream thing?”

“I got it from her,” you whispered. “It drove her crazy. I’m scared the same thing will happen to me.”

“It won’t,” Ernesto said firmly. “You’re too strong for that.”

You rolled over to face him, your eyes catching the faint light from the window. “You don’t think I’m a freak?”

“What’s wrong with being a freak?” he said gently.

“I’m a freak, like my mom.”

“Were you close with her?” he asked after a pause.

“Yeah. I think about her every day. I can still see her face so clearly. She was beautiful.”

Ernesto hesitated, meeting her gaze. “I think you’re beautiful.”

You paused, looking at him with a gentle look on your face, his eyes flickering to your lips. After a moment, you found yourself leaning in. Your eyes flickered shut and just as you were about to kiss, a voice cut in.

“What about me?” Finney, your older brother, said from his bed, his tone dripping with annoyance. “Do you think I’m beautiful?”