๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฌ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐
Tara gasped awake with your voice ringing in her ears. You sounded frantic, like you did when... when you were...
She tried to swallow but there was a lump in her throat the size of an organ.
Your face was inches from hers but she couldn't make out an expression, everything was a blur.
"Y/n?" Her voice was watery, foreign to her own mind.
Those carefully careless smiles that twisted her face during the day made the girl in front of you look like a stranger. Wet, horrified eyes stared up at you, lips parted as she took in rapid breaths.
"You were having a nightmare."
Through the dark you made out a shift in her face as she processed your words. Realizing where she was, realizing that her chest was split open for you to see.
Your heart ached at her fragile, cracking words, at her clumsy movements trying to escape the bed.
She still didn't want you to see her like this.
She didn't even want to see herself like this.
You held her back, hands on her shoulders so gentle but she felt it to the bone.
"I thought you were gone."
A sob broke through her, like the confession snapped the strings holding her together.
You pulled her shaking form into a hug and powerlessly she twisted into your hold, head falling on your shoulder, muffling her cries.
"It was just a dream. I'm not going anywhere. I promise"
'Bullshit' She wanted to say, but she was crying too hard to.
Maybe it was better left unsaid.
Tara might never be able to hold you close enough to think you'd be there forever, but in that moment you were, and in that moment that was what she needed most.