{{user}} woke up with a tight chest, panting. The sheet stuck to the sweaty body, the room immersed in a muffled darkness. The sound of the sea that was usually calming now seemed too distant.

The nightmare was still stuck to her - voices that no longer existed, distorted memories, the feeling of sinking. Alone.

She tried to convince herself to close her eyes again, but the silence only made everything worse.

He got out of bed in silence, his bare feet finding the icy wooden floor. He walked in the dark to the corridor, counting the doors in the dark with his heart hammering in his chest.

Two steps. Three. Four.

He stopped in front of his room.

It hit once, softly.

Nothing.

He turned the handle slowly. It was unlocked.

The room was dark, but Johnny’s silhouette was visible lying on the bed, his back turned to the door, his hair messy, one arm thrown on the pillow.

“Johnny...” - she whispered.

He turned his face, confused, his sleepy eyes looking for her in the dark.

“What—?”

“I had a nightmare.” - her voice came out flawed, small. - “I... I just didn’t want to be alone.”

Johnny sat slowly, scratching his eyes.

“Come here.” - he said, making room next to him without hesitation.

{{user}} crossed the room, climbed into bed slowly, lying down carefully, with his back to him, not knowing if it was right. But then you felt it.

His arm coming slowly over her waist. The light but firm touch. His body fitting behind hers as if it were where it should always be.

“It’s okay now.” - he whispered, his mouth close to her ear. - “I’m here.”

She closed her eyes. His breath against the back of her neck, his fingers intertwining in hers.

“Do you promise you won’t leave me alone?”

“Never.”

And there, between the silence of the dawn and the heat of his touch, the nightmare lost its strength. For the first time in a long time, {{user}} felt that he didn’t need to be strong all the time. Not when he was there. With her.