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baby, you're hands down the best thing about me

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After a terrible relationship, I was done with love. With life. With everything.

I'd given myself up, unable to continue properly. I went through the most basic motions of life but didn't register anything. Work was a blur where I was constantly yelled at, eating was a choice, sleeping was a nightmare.

Until I met you.

Meeting you, that day, was like coming home from a very long road trip. It was comfortable and easy and I was finally able to let go of my luggage.

You helped me pick up the pieces.

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"Excuse me, miss?"

I turned and saw a man, a bit taller than me, standing behind me a bit away. I nodded slowly, "Yes?"

He gestured vaguely in my direction, "Are you all right?" His voice was sincere and something about his eyes was calming.

"Of course, I'm fine," I looked away, well aware of how not fine I was looking for the first time in months. My clothes were a mess and I'd been awake for more than a few days straight, since a nightmare kept reoccurring and it woke me up every time I was asleep.

Even if I'd only dozed off for a few minutes.

Waking up in an empty bed was worse than the nightmare itself, though, and I'd taken to sleeping on my small couch in the living room. He could probably see the deep bags beneath my eyes and the clear daze in my eyes from the lack of rest.

"You don't seen fine," he commented, matter-of-factly. He thought for a moment then said, "Join me for coffee?"

"I don't know you, sir," I replied, taking a step backwards. I'd met him through coffee and I was unwilling to let another in the same way.

"Tea, then?"

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I jolted awake, hearing a sharp scream, though that ended up to be my own. I was tangled inside of sheets that smelled of vanilla, much different from mine, and the smell calmed me as the door opened quickly.

"Nightmare?" he asked, already coming to sit down beside me. I leaned towards him as he wrapped his arms around me, "I'm sorry, I was making breakfast."

He had tried to be with me whenever I woke up for weeks since we'd started staying the nights in each other's apartments. Sometimes his presence seemed to chase away the nightmares but, other times, it wouldn't work and he would be there for when I'd pull myself away from them.

"Do you want some food? Or something to drink?" he murmured against my hair, pressing a soft kiss against my temple.

I shook my head, "I'm not hungry."

"You haven't eaten in days," he protested, concern obvious in his voice.

After a few minutes, he slowly released me and headed back into the kitchen while I lay in his sheets. He'd been gone for barely a few seconds and I already missed him, his steady presence being the only thing I wanted nowadays.

He returned a few minutes later with a tray of breakfast, which he sat on the bed next to me. He watched as I slowly ate a few bites, a smile spreading across his face with every bit of food I ate. I couldn't help but smile back, loving everything about him.

I finished what I could and he took the rest away after a quick kiss, promising me it'd be in the fridge in case I was hungry later in the day. I never was but it was the thought that always mattered since it meant he was truly looking out for me. He never became angry when I was unable to finish food and it went to waste and nor did he get exasperated by my many needs.

I followed him out of the room, knowing I had to take a quick shower before I went to work.

I still had a long ways to go and the bad in my life still far outweighed the good but, with him next to me, I knew everything was almost all right again.

He was, by far, the best thing about me.

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and baby, I don't know where I was but I'm so glad you found me

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