𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗘 | 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝

𝐢𝐱. 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 - 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆

♕

Dahlia awoke screaming and to a pair of concerned green eyes.

"Dahlia." Matthew breathed, he looked beyond worried. Dahlia bit her lips averting her eyes from his, glaring hard at the floor.

He was laying above her, his soft curls brushed her cheeks. She blushed.

They were so close it was painful to Dahlia in an odd way. She struggled under him.

"Are you all right? Would you like some tea? It helps sooth the nerves-" Matthew was rambling and kindly avoiding why Dahlia had awoken screaming. She curled her hands around his wrists, which was placed near her head in an attempt not to squeeze the life out of Dahlia.

 "If you have questions, jann, then ask them." Dahlia said, slowly sliding into a sitting position, Matthew sat up with her, raking his blonde hair with his hands.

"What are your nightmares about?" he asked carefully as if he was walking on glass.

Dahlia took a deep breath. "When I was eight, after my parents had died, I had gone to seek comfort with the Darkwoods. Evan was my closest friend and we've known each other for as long as I can remember, so of course I went to him. There I met his sister Eledora, Ellie is-was amazing, she was an angel. We became the best of friends, we did everything together. Of course me and Ariadne were adopted by the Bridgestocks when we were almost nine, but we never lost touch. The Darkwoods would come from New York every year for a week just to see us, it was special, and we would go visit them, leaving dad in Idris. It was the summer of my fourteenth birthday when it happened-" Dahlia broke off her throat clogging at the memory.

Matthew clutched her hands, "Take your time." he murmured.

"We were playing, Ellie was really sick so I had gone up to her room to check in on her a-and there was a demon, Ellie was too weak to fight it off, I tried, oh Matthew I tried, but it lunged at her and before I could turn around, she-" Dahlia started sobbing.

"It ripped her to shreds in front of my eyes. All I could do was stare in horror, and then after it was gone I started screaming. I should have screamed before, or I should I helped, I could have done something-The worst part? Everyone thought I had only entered the room after she was killed." she cried, her whole body shuddering at the memory.

She was shaking, the world was too close. Tears were streaming down her face, Matthew would think she was disgusting. He would leave her. She was sure of it.

Matthew pulled her to him, she crashed into his chest. "I'm so sorry Dahlia." he whispered, cradling her, and playing with her hair gently.

She looked at him with teary eyes. "You don't-you don't hate me?" she asked, biting her lip. Matthew gave a cold sort of laugh. "Dahlia, darling, how could I-"

"Well you did for....four years. I don't see why you'd stop now." Dahlia muttered. "Because, I love you." Matthew replied, placing butterfly kisses all over her face.

She placed her hands on his chest, putting a little distance between them. "Why are you always sad, Matthew?" she asked, tilting her head. Matthew froze.

"I did not know," he started slowly, his voice was low. "That I seemed sad to you."

Dahlia shivered a little, though it was not cold in the room. "There is something weighing on you, Matthew," she said gently. "A secret. I know it. Will you tell me what it is?" 

"You do not know what you are asking." he said. His voice was ragged.

"Yes I do." she said. "I am asking for the truth. Your truth. You know mine, and I do not even know what makes you so unhappy."