Falling Blindfolded

Chapter 5: Live a Little!

Chapter 5

“Zoey! Wake up.” A voice jerked me awake and my body snapped forward. My breathing came out in ragged breaths and sweat was dripping down my face.

“Finally! Are you alright?” The voice came again and I looked to my left realizing it was Daniel. He was standing on my side of the bed and the concern I saw in his eyes told me I must have been screaming.

“Yeah...” The lie froze on my tongue. I was far from okay. The nightmare was still fresh on my brain, the fear it had caused still consumed me. I shut my eyes and took deep breaths as to not dissolve into a puddle of tears.

I felt my bed dip and then something warm was wrapped around me. If I had known that all it took to break the little control I had, that was the dam that held back my tears was Daniel putting his arms around me, I would have made sure to stay far away from him. But I hadn't known and now there was no time to run, the tears were already falling freely down my face and a sob tore its way out of my throat. It seemed like the harder I tried to keep it in the harder I cried.

Daniel just sat there beside me, as my body shook and snot ran from my nose, the whole time running his fingers through my hair comfortingly. The crying eventually stopped, the tears ceased falling and my throat became too sore to produce those awful wails, but my body still shakes. His face is still there when I close my eyes.

“Shhh... It's okay Zoe, it’s over.” Daniel had no idea what my nightmare had been but his words still calmed me down. It was over; he would never hurt me again.

My eyelids were heavy from crying and my body felt weak and tired. Daniel continued to stay beside me until I finally drifted back to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of soft snores. For a moment, I’m completely confused and then last night’s events come rushing back. I am currently lying on Daniel's chest with his arms wrapped around me. Lifting my head slightly, I can't help but cringe at the sight of what can only be my snot on his light blue shirt.

Slowly, I lift my eyes to his face and am relieved to see that he's still asleep. His lashes making crescents on his cheeks which are for once dimple free. His brown hair is messy and his lips are slightly parted as he snores softly. It's very cute and for a moment the thought of staying here in his arms crosses my mind, but just as quickly as it came it went. I shouldn't get close to him; I couldn't get close to him. Not after what happened with Oliver.

Ever since that nightmare of a relationship ended I haven't been able to be with anyone else. The thought of being hurt like that again usually sends me into a panic attack. And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't know how to let someone in.

“Good, the tears are all gone.” Daniel said suddenly, jolting me out of my pity party for one and causing my head to snap in his direction. Daniel was holding himself up on one of his elbows while he wiped the sleep from his eyes. His hair was a curly mess and I can't help but crack a smile at the sight of him.

“You're quite a sight in the mornings aren't you?” I ask to change the subject.

“My sexiness is 24/7 if you didn't already know.” He said arrogantly but even then the sound of his voice did something to my heart that was sure to worry me later. “But seriously, are you okay?” His blue-green eyes, now sleep free, were staring up at me with such worry and quickly my resolve to lie faded. He deserved the truth after everything he did for me last night. Well at least part of the truth anyway.

            Scooting down to the end of the bed I looked out my balcony doors to the blue sky and took a deep breath. “I have nightmares a lot.” I began, not looking at him. “They started after my ex-boyfriend got out on parole. He’s a horrible person and did horrible things to me, so obviously whenever the relationship finally ended and he was put in jail I was happy. Finally free. But all good things come to an end and he’s been let out on good behavior or something stupid like that.” My hands were clutched together in my lap and I watched as they shook with the memory of him. Fear of him. “There’s no way he’ll find me or even want to find me, but the thought of seeing him again scares me to death.”