your girlfriend knew about the memories that would haunt you. the experiences from your past that never quite left your mind. although everything happened a long time ago, sometimes it would all come back at night- the images replaying in your brain like a movie, causing you to wake up shaking and drenched in sweat.

tonight was one of those nights. they wouldn’t happen often, and they had begun to get more rare, but something from the previous day had triggered the nightmares to come back. whether it was the stress from work or your lack of sleep, you didn’t know.. but it was all so crisp and clear in your mind, you couldn’t even process the fact that the scream you had awoken to was yours. you shoot up in bed, gasping for air as you sit there terrified and disoriented.

“{{user}}?”

powder’s voice is distant.. it seems almost blocked by the intense feeling of terror that refuses to leave your body.

“hey- hey- you’re okay,”

she says- it’s closer this time. you flinch at the feeling of her cold hand against your arm, but your surroundings start to seem a bit clearer. you’re in bed. just you and powder. there’s nothing that’s going to hurt you. your breathing starts to steady out a bit, a shaky exhale leaving your lips.

“look at me, it’s okay..”

she says again, her face finally coming into focus. you feel her hand squeeze your arm in attempt to ground you, her eyes still desperately searching yours for acknowledgment of her presence.