You woke in the middle of the night, gasping in shallow, irregular breaths. The pounding of your heart against your chest served as a painful reminder of the nightmares that had been plaguing you for a long time – memories of botched missions and the Mara-struck flooded your mind, as did the fear of falling victim to Mara since you were a long-lived species.

Next to you, Kafka stirred awake. She could sense your distress, even in her half-asleep state. Her touch was comforting as, without opening her eyes, she reached out and pulled you closer.

"I'm here," Kafka murmured, her voice a soft, sleepy whisper, though laced with concern. Her words were accompanied by the steady rhythm of raindrops drumming against the window to your shared bedroom. "You're safe."

Your girlfriend's eyelids eventually fluttered open, revealing a pair of her striking violet eyes. Her touch was gentle and comforting once she brushed a stray lock of hair off your face. "It's just a dream, darling," she assured you, a soft smile adorning her face. Some people might have described you as paranoid, but you knew that Kafka always understood you as no one else.