The Sandman's Daughter

Eighteen

Cassie sat on the porch step, tears coming hot and fast. Lack of sleep causing their sting to seek even deeper into her soul. Her life was a lie. She knew she was different. That was something that she would never even consider denying. But this was more than just confirmation. This was her whole sense of self shattered into a million pieces.

How could the woman in there, the woman who'd claimed to be her mother her entire life, be okay with keeping something like this from her? She was no relation to her at all. The person she'd called Mommy and climbed in bed with at night was nothing more than a stranger.

She was alone in the world. An orphan to take pity on. The people who shared her blood were dead and gone and she would never know them. The only one who might still have answers couldn't tell her. How fair was that? One living relative left and she was only a hollow shell floating through life in some cold facility.

Cassie's body shook as she tried to stop the tears. They weren't helping anything. It wasn't the time to fall apart. The town was still in danger. Her friends were still in danger. She might not have a blood family, but she did have friends. And they meant everything to her.

She couldn't do anything to save them if she fell apart now. Succumbing to her emotions was a selfish thing to do in the face of the cold, hard reality around her. She'd surely lose what little she still had left in this world if she even gave in to the pain for a second. Then again, didn't everyone have a right to feel what they did? Would it really be too much to ask to stop and breathe for a few moments while her world crumbled down around her?

The front door opened behind her and her shoulders stiffen as her walls went back up. She wiped absently at the tears and focused on the quiet street, her eyes tracing along the blacktop as it stretched away. She couldn't face whoever had stepped out that door. She didn't want them to see how broken she was, how completely crushed she was now she knew she had always been an outsider, an uninhabited island, and nothing more.

Feet descended the porch steps and someone sat beside her, their silence comforting her rather than demanding attention. Cassie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, realizing that she could have a few minutes to breathe in this crazy world. She had people who could give her that kind of safe space, even for only a few moments. She had people that cared and that is why she could go on fighting. That was why she wouldn't fall apart in the middle of the nightmare.

She blinked back a few last tears and took another deep breath. She was Cassie O'Bryan and she helped people. It was what she'd done her whole life and now she knew it was in her blood as well. No matter what else, she was still the same girl she was an hour ago, and that girl, no matter how sleep-deprived she was, would always fight to the end. No matter what stood in the way.

She turned her head, taking in her silent visitor. Mike sat there, watching her with concerned eyes. He smiled slightly, patting her knee.

"You okay?" he asked, his thumb still brushing her knee softly. "I know your mind must be reeling from what just happened."

Cassie sighed and shook her head. "I don't really know how to feel. I don't think I've really processed it yet. My brain's too tired to even try right now."

He gave a wry chuckle. "I think we all know that feeling."

"Yeah, a month-long nap would do us all good." She turned towards him, self-conscious of the way she must look and his warm hand still on her knee. There were so many reasons to run away from a moment this raw but now was not the time to hide from any truth, no matter how hard it might be.

"Mike...," she said, hesitating a moment, trying to keep any blunt edge from her voice. He was here, providing her silent strength in her time of need but she honestly had no idea why. Was he still here because he wanted to be or did he think she was the only choice in staying alive?

"Cassie," he said, scooting closer. "What is it?"

"Why are you here?" she blurted, surprising herself. She immediately cringed, not liking how that sounded at all. Her non-social skills were once again at their finest.

Mike frowned, taking his hand from her knee. He absently ran it through his hair as he studied her face. "Do you not want me here? Should I leave?" He started to move.

Cassie reached out, stopping him firmly and startling herself even more. She didn't want him to leave. He was so close and she may never get another chance to soak up his presence but she needed to the real reason he had stayed.

"I... I didn't mean it like that, Mike," Cassie said, taking her hand from his arm as he scooted near her once more. "I would never mean it like that but... I just unloaded all this crazy stuff on you, stuff like impossible powers to loads of family drama and yet you're still here. Why?"

He nodded slowly, thinking about her words as he reached out and took her hand gently in his before looking into her eyes. "You've been through so much, Cassie. All your life you've battled this secret. One you honestly thought would send people running from you. You've been so alone your whole life, so afraid, and no one even knew it. I can't even begin to imagine how heartbreaking that's been. No one deserves that. Especially someone as amazing as you." His fingers moved across hers as his eyes practically cradled her face.

Cassie bit her lip, daring to believe the words she was hearing. Had she accidentally fallen asleep on the steps or was this really happening? "Do you really believe that?"

He smiled, nodding. "I thought you were amazing before but you are so much more than that." He frowned a moment. "And you shouldn't have had to face any of this alone. You need people right now. People you can count on. People who care about you. You need me, Cassie."

Her breath hitched for a second. Did this mean what she really thought it meant? Was she dreaming? How could this really be happening? "Mike?" she barely whispered.

He leaned forward, brushing the hair out of her face with a gentle caress. "I've been trying to figure out a way to tell you this for so long. You're just so hard to read and I worry that you see me as just another dumb jock, but... I like you, Cassie. I have for a long time." He pulled her into his arms, hugging her against his chest. "And I'm not letting you face this alone."