Nightmares

Episode 3.4

"Warning: Do not overdose"

I read it on the label. Then take out a pill of benzodiazepine and mix it in his milk. I pour myself a glass too.

I go upstairs to the bedroom, Joshua was sitting on the swing chair on the balcony. "A warm milk will help you sleep," I said giving him the mug, the one with the pills. I watched him drinking it while sipping my own.

"Finish?" I said. He nodded. It gave him a cute milk mustache above his lips. I chuckled and wiped it with my thumb. I put away the glasses on a table and sat cuddling him on the swing. He rested his head on my chest while I stroked his hair gently.

"Can you sing me a song? Please?" He asked. It's so rare of him to request anything from me. So how could I deny it?

Oh little darling
Please let it be
I can be quiet if you want to sleep
I will say nothing, nothing
I will say nothing, nothing at all

Oh little darling
Please let it be
I won't speak of the things you dream
I will say nothing
I will say nothing, nothing at all

Summer arrived.........

He fell asleep shortly. I just sat there for a while, holding him in my arms, the moon peeking at me through the clouds.

The knife. The knife. The knife. I don't know how it got there but I don't want to believe it was done by a ghost or something. Was Joshua telling the truth? Do they hurt him? Did someone cut his hand that day?

How can a ghost exist in an actual world? Whatever that is but I want it to stop. I don't want him to be afraid in his own house. He's just like a child, so gullible and fragile. These nightmares and ghosts, it's all too much for a boy like him.

After some time, when I started to get a bit sleepy, I picked him up and lay him down on the bed. I placed a kiss on his forehead, "I hope you don't get any nightmares tonight," and slept hugging him to my heart.

I woke up with the sun beaming at me through the window. Joshua is still there near me. I felt a little relief. I glanced at the alarm clock, 8:29 am. He seemed to be in a very deep slumber, so I thought not to wake him up. Carefully, I moved my arm out from under his head.

I think it's my first time seeing him sleep this late, and this peacefully, but I'm happy. I love it when his hands curl into a small fist when he's sleeping, my cute little boyfriend. I smiled and kissed his cheek then got up from the bed, and stood on the balcony.

The morning is so quiet today. I inhaled a long breath of the fresh air and exhaled, then went downstairs. I put on some music on my phone while taking a bath, eat cereals, do some cleaning in the hall, prepare my books and laptop, and go upstairs again. I sat on the bed beside Joshua. He was sound asleep. Time 10:45 am. I thought to let him sleep some more.

I don't want to mention the vision I had when I was taking shower. That Joshua woke up screaming and never in my life I ran so fast. He was crying and saying, "Someone touched me, I thought it was you, but it was not you," and I took him in my arms. "I'm so scared, please don't leave,"

That is why I came into the bedroom to do my work. I don't want this to turn into reality. Abruptly, he softly groaned, opened his eyes, and sat up yawning. He rubbed his eyes and looked at me, then again fell asleep on my leg with a hand on my stomach. I didn't overdose him, did I?

He woke up after one hour. "Good morning, baby," I said

"Good morning," he kissed me on the lips. And I was completely baffled. He hugs but never kisses first. Just what the hell was mixed in that sleeping pill?

He got up and start roaming around the room aimlessly in my oversized shirt, it's collar drooping loosely from his right shoulder. He wears my clothes at night, says they're comfy and smell like me. He spent some five minutes on the balcony. Then came inside, sat snuggling with me, and started playing with my necklace chain.

"What did you dream about?" I asked fixing his messy bed hairs. It's almost covering his eyes.

"I don't remember," he said

So it worked.

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