I sat up as my eyes snapped open. My heart was beating out of my chest as I slid off of whatever I was sitting in and landed on my feet. I spun around, my body tense but ready to react to anything. Everything was a blur. I froze still for a moment, the only thing I could hear is my blood pulsing. I felt hands grab on me from behind and a mutter. I spun around and punched with my left arm, but my fist was caught.

"Dana!"

I stopped. My breathing stilled. Everything went silent. Before me he stood, terror in his yes, probably as much fear as I felt. It became aware to me that my face was wet.

His broad shoulders shifted up and down as he took deep calming breaths. His golden brown eyes caught the minimal sun that shone through the window. His soft lips were slightly parted.

"Dana?"

"Grayson?"

My voice broke on the second syllable. Tears sprung to my eyes. I fell to the floor, pulling my arms back in on myself. Strong arms rapped around me and I tried to fight them, but they stayed strong. I gave up and let myself be pulled into his lap and my head held against his chest as sobs racked through me.

"Hey, hey, it's okay." He muttered, his voice reverberating in his chest. His voice was like a snake that slithered through the holes in my walls and broke them down.

I wrapped my arms around his sides and buried my face into the crook between his neck and shoulder. I felt myself lifted up, his arms under me, and he placed down once again into his lap, now we sat in the bed.

We sat for quite some time, his hands running through my hair, my sobs gradually slowing and quieting. After some silence had settled, my tears ceasing, he spoke.

"What was it this time?"

I shook my head.
"I don't know. I don't know. I don't know..."
I mumbled, my voice becoming close to none existent.

"Shh it's okay. Well work through this. You'll be okay. Well be okay." He said.

We spent the rest of the day in the room, wrapped up in eachother, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

We can't go on like this. The days he's gone for work are the worst. The terrors. They haunt me behind my eyes, and they stalk during the day, always eluding, never revealing what the nights hold. And when the sun goes down, and my guard falls, they attack, sharp fangs and claws.

The clock flashed dimly across the room. It was 5- maybe 6. It was better not to look. Not to be reminded of how much longer I must wait, sitting in bed, for the light to come, and for the shadows haunting to leave me. 

I looked to Grayson, his peaceful sleeping form under the covers. If only, if only, if only....

If only I could sleep like that.

My sleep was restless, panicked and painful. How it felt to be peaceful, I'm not sure I knew.

The weights in my eyes were pulling them down, forcing them shut. I fought and struggled against it, but my body and my mind reached exhaustion.

The shadows consumed.