Somebody That I Used To Know

Nightmares

Molly yawns as she turns over in bed. Next to her, Tom starts to pant for air.

She quickly jumps up and shakes him awake. "Baby, hey, you're having a bad dream. Please wake up,"

Tom shoots in an upward position, sweat dripping down his face.

"Thomas," Molly says and caresses his face. "Hey, just breathe, it's alright."

Tom holds Molly's hand on his face and closes his eyes, gently breathing through his nose.

"What happened?"

"It... it was just... it was just a bad dream."

"About what?"

"Nothing, darling, really."

"Thomas..."

"I dreamt that Matt..." He takes a deep breath. "Killed you."

Molly's heart sinks as she brings her husband into an embrace. "You don't have to worry about that because we're getting help. It's going to be okay, sweetheart. I won't let him hurt you again."

"I... I don't care about me but... but I don't ever want to think of something happening to you."

"I know but it's going to be okay. We're going to be fine. The police are getting a warrant for us arrest and everything will be alright."

"I hope so." Tom whispers. "But... Molly, I... I still feel guilt for putting him in jail."

"He should feel guilty for putting you in a bunker."

"He does, we... we've talked about it. He was crying and got very emotional and said how sorry he was about everything and-"

"No." Molly says. "No, he's manipulating you. He doesn't feel fucking guilty. He felt guilty about hurting you like that, he wouldn't be doing it again."

"This time is different. He's kind now."

"Kind? What the fuck does that mean?"

"Okay, the first time, he didn't even meet any of my basic needs. I didn't have one drop of food while I was there and I drank a bottle of water in total throughout five exhausting days. This time we... we have a nice dinner so that I don't get as sick from the medicine and if I happen to wake up he... he'll stop because I said that I didn't want to be awake for any of it and-"

A feeling of disgust washes over Molly. "Someone showing the smallest amount of human decency by giving you food, which you need to survive, is not being kind. It's not kind when you're being forced into his on the threat that he'll hurt your wife and daughter. That is not any bit kind. I know that you feel bad because you're a good person and you try to see the best in everyone, but this is just insane. You know what a horrible person he is, why are you letting him just walk all over you like this? He's manipulated you into feeling bad for him so that when you do get out of the deal and the police are involved, you'll do exactly what you're doing of being upset and not wanting to put him away. That's what's going on here."

"He... he didn't manipulate, I just-"

"No, no, it's manipulation. You feel like this is your fault and you were the one who agreed to it so it's illegal. Even if it was legal and he didn't have a past of disgusting actions, you cannot have a contract with someone where the common denominator is sex. That's fucking messed up and it's illegal for both parties. This case, it's different because you're being threatened with the lives of your family. Why don't you see that this isn't right?"

"I know it's not right." Tom says. "It's a bad thing to do, I recognize that... I just... I just don't want to give him another reason to go after us."

"You're giving him a reason by not outing him in jail. If he's in custody, he can't hurt us. You remember the trial, right? What that was like?"

"Of course I do. I had a fucking anxiety attack outside."

"I know you did. All of the terrible stuff he did to you, all of the pain and suffering that you went through... was done by him. You can say that it was 4-person deal all you want, you can bring up what Rachel did, but at the end of the day, who caused you the most pain?"

"He did." Tom whispers.

"Right, he did. He didn't hold your hand to make it go away, did he?"

"No."

"No, that was left for me. I had to hold your hand and pray that you would pull through. Your mum watched her son be brought in on a stretcher and have people screaming to find out what blood type you were so that you wouldn't go brain dead. That's who he is. He's not some nice guy that's just offering something to you and letting you forget it, he is a monster that hurt you in so many ways and he's going to do it again. People like that don't have souls, they... they can't change. You are a good person and I love you for it more than anything in this world, but for once, you need to be a dick. You need to look him into the eyes, say fuck you, and smile as they drag him away because you're never going to have to worry about what he'll do to you again."

Tom slowly nods and quickly dives into Molly's chest, holding her right for comfort.

"Shhh," she whispers and strokes his head. "You're safe now. They're going to a reset him and you'll be safe, I promise. I love you, baby."

"I love you too, Molly."