I jolt up, inhaling the smell of burning wood and feeling the heat of a thousand suns. I look around the room for my brother only to see an empty mattress next to me.

"Tommy? TOMMY?!"

I call out. No answer. I run over to my door and open it, realizing my mistake as clouds of smoke filled my lungs. Barely being able to breathe, I run next door to my parents room, finding it to be empty too.

"Momma? Papa? Tommy?! Where is everyone?!" I yell through my coughs and wheezes. Finally, the fire seemed to spread around me at the speed of light, so I darted for the front door, breaking it open and rolling onto the lawn. Once everything stopped spinning, I quickly backed away from the burning house as the rest of it collapsed into embers.

"No...NO!!" I scream, tears rushing down my face. Then a glimpse of hope rang in my ears.

"Sissy?"
I turn around to see no one.

"Tommy? Where are you?"
I look around only to see a figure or two behind one of the cars. My legs carried me there, until they collapsed at the sight I saw.

"Why did you burn us?" The three said in sync.

There stood my Ma, Pa, and little brother, with charred flesh falling off of their bones. I stare in agony.

"No...I didn't do it." I stumble backwards in disbelief, nausea threatening my stomach. Their voices only got louder and echoed.

"WHY? WHY? WHY? WH-"

I bolted up from my nightmare with Tyler and Jenna on the end of my bed with my room lights on. I was covered in sweat, shaking, and crying.

"Hey honey, everything's okay, you're here, we're right here, you're safe." Jenna's sweet voice brought me back to reality as Tyler's cold arm wrapped around my shoulders. I could barely speak.

"I...I...I think I'm g-gonna be sick."

I stand up, rush to the bathroom, and emptied my stomach as Jenna rubbed my back. I flushed the toilet, washed out my mouth, and sat back on the bed. I sighed, exhausted. Jenna stood up after Tyler whispered in her ear.

"I'm gonna give you two some alone time, okay? I left some medicine for you on your night stand just incase you feel sick again."

She kissed me on the forehead and left the room.

"Can you...maybe tell me what your nightmare was about?" Tyler said.
"I've dealt with nightmares before, and this one seems pretty scary."

I sigh. Did I say anything in my sleep? Was I really being loud enough that they both woke up?

"I just...I...I uh, um..." the words were there but they wouldn't come out.

"It's okay sweetie. You don't have to talk about it all at once, but I used to experience these kinds of nightmares, and I know that if you don't talk about it...or any issue for that matter...things will just get worse."

I muster up the courage to tell him.

"When was eleven years old, my house burned down. I-I woke up to it, not being able to find my family. I ran out of the house right before...um...b-before it collapsed..."
I realized I was fidgeting with my hands.

"My family didn't make it. And everyone thinks I set the house on fire. I just wish that I could've done more..." tears that had brimmed my eyes started falling uncontrollably. Tyler leaned in closer and hugged me.

"Marie. It is not your fault. And I know saying that won't make the nightmares and trauma go away, but you should at least know that you did what you could in a moment of panic. You aren't to blame."

His hug felt comforting, but I pulled away after realizing how sweaty I was.

"Could I take a small shower? I'm really gross and sweaty."
He chuckled.

"Of course. Make it quick so that you can get enough sleep, okay?" He started heading for the door.

"T-Tyler, I mean, dad... c-could you stay? I'm s-scared and my anxiety is really bad... but if you don't want to I understand."

He smiled and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes, I'd love too." His sympathetic smile made me feel warm inside.

I go into the bathroom with some clothes, shut the door, and took a slightly cold shower to help me calm down. When I got dressed, I came out and snuggled back into bed.

"I...I don't know why. I'm so scared dad." I was trembling. Nightmares usually have a big effect on me- but this time I don't have to deal with it on my own.

"It's okay, we'll figure it out with time. For now we've gotta make sure you're feeling alright, so I put this in the dryer while you were in the shower so that it'll be nice and warm."
He gave me a very fuzzy, warm, and soothing blanket. He then held me in his arms and snuggled up next to me, my head resting on his chest as his arms wrapped around me, making me feel protected.

"I j-just can't s-stop thinking about it. About w-what I saw in my nightmare." I began to hiccup as my breathing became unsteady again.

"Shh...it's okay. You're okay, I promise. You're safe here, I've got you. Focus on something else, feel my breathing, count my heartbeats, count down from 300 by twos, do anything. Just distract yourself if you can, I'm here for you."
He turned off the lights and started humming a soothing tune as I fell asleep in his arms.

Next morning

I slowly came back into consciousness as I opened my eyes and yawned. Rolling over, I noticed Tyler was gone and that one of my sleeves were rolled up.

Shit. I hope he didn't see my arms. I thought.

Rolling them down, I heard a knock on the door and I yelled "come in!"

"Hey, morning sunshine!" It was Jenna.
"I know you had a rough first night so we let you sleep in. But get ready, we're going shopping!"

As she shut the door, I got up and sighed. I never really liked shopping because I always got girly clothes. Maybe it'll be different this time, I don't know. I got ready and head downstairs for a quick bowl of cereal before we headed out. Tyler stayed back, he wanted Jenna and I to have some bonding time.

This should be interesting...