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"No. No. Stop. Stop, it hurts. Please." Isabella's whimpers wake me up. And just like every night, Rain comes running out the room, wanting me to help her. I get up, quickly walking to the room. And by now I know the routine. Her bunny and bear have probably fallen to the floor. And giving them to her will calm her. As well as a hug.
I rush into the room picking up the stuffed animals that- just as I suspected- had fallen. "Hey. Bella, wake up. It's just a nightmare." I say, picking her up in my arms as she thrashes in my hold, tears running down her face.
"No. No, please. Stop." She continues her pleadings, still not woken up. I rub my hand up and down her back, put Goldie and Pinkie in her arms. That's what she named the stuffed animals. The gold bunny is Goldie and the pink bear is Pinkie.
"It's just a nightmare, wake up. Wake up, Bella. You're okay." I whisper, running my hands through her hair, my heart hurting just like every night.
It's been 2 and a half weeks that she'd been here. She's been having nightmares every single night. And it never gets easier. Never gets easier to watch her struggle everyday.
She suddenly snaps awake, her chest rising as she heavily breathes. She manically looks around, her torn eyes locking with mine. She looks at me for a couple seconds before her lips frown as she wraps her hands around my neck, pushing her head into my neck like I could make it all okay. As if I could hide her from all the bad in the world. As if I could keep her away from it all.
Fuck I wish I could. But I knew deep inside that as soon as she was better, she should get a new name, a whole new identity and completely disappear. As long as she's around me and my life she is always going to be in danger. That's just the truth.
"Don't let him take me. Please don't give me back to him." She cries, her tears wetting my neck.
I hug her tighter. I didn't want to admit it but holding her somehow comforted me too.
"Okay. Bella, I won't give you back. I won't let him take you again." I pull back, cupping her face making her look at me. Her sad blue eyes look into mine as I say, "I'll never let anyone hurt you. I promise. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt you."
But damn it, if I wouldn't do whatever it takes to protect her.
She looks at me, her eyes vulnerable and for the first time I feel as if I see a little bit of trust in them. She breaks the gaze, looking down at Goldie and pinkie before picking them up and hugging them. She moves away from me as rain comes laying next to her.
She lays down, trying to sleep again. "Thank you." She softly mutters.
I awkwardly nod, feeling stupid for how I'm starting to feel. I don't do this feelings shit. I need to stop. I get up wanting to head back to the couch but I feel her grasping my hand, holding me back.
