All They Told Me Was Just Give Up

Chapter 7

Austin’s POV

My eyelids fluttered open and I tried to adjust my eyes to the darkness of our bunk. I stretched carefully trying not to wake Elise up as she still had her head on my chest. “Good morning.” I heard her voice say sounding surprisingly awake.

“Good morning, I didn’t think you would be up.” I said rubbing her back slightly.

“I didn’t sleep too well last night but I didn’t want to have to climb over you to get out of the bunk.” She said and I frowned knowing that she couldn’t see my face.

“Why didn’t you sleep well?” I asked. I was worried about her. She hadn’t been eating a lot for the past 2 days and now she wasn’t sleeping well.

“I have a lot on my mind.” She said in a quiet tone that made her seem like her thoughts were scaring her.

“Did you have a nightmare?” I asked. I may not have known her for too long but I knew she had a history of having nightmares more often than not. She snuggled her head in close to my chest and I could feel something cold hit my shirt. It was tears. I used my finger tips to rub small circles into the small of her back and shushed her. “Do you want to talk about it?” I asked and I heard her sniffle.

“We were at the beach just sitting in the waves letting them crash over our legs. We were talking and holding hands and I asked you what would happen if we lost each other but before you could answer a wave ripped you out of my hand and took you into the ocean. I couldn’t see you anymore. You were just taken away from me.” I could feel her move her hands up to her face as she made an effort to try to muffle the sound of her tears. “Do you know what it’s like to just have the most important thing in your life just… torn from your arms? I couldn’t breathe it felt like I was drowning out there with you. But I had to stay there and watch you suffer and be pulled down. I couldn’t do anything and it made me feel sick to my stomach.” She said through sharp intakes of breath.

“Shh… Everything’s alright I’m here and nothings tearing me away from you.” I said as I pulled her in closer to my side. I rubbed more circles into the small of her back to try to calm her down and almost instantly she stopped shaking from the tears. “I won’t leave you. Ever. And nothing can rip us apart. I love you.” I said as she cuddled in closer to my side again.

“I love you too. Thanks for being here for me. I really need you in my life Austin. Without you… I don’t know where I would be.” She said and rested her head on my chest once more. I smiled to myself in the dark. It was nice to know she needed me just as much as I needed her.