An Inconvenient Attachment [Dreamwastaken X HasanAbi]

Chapter Ten

Dream couldn't sleep. The nightmare hurt too much. The cold air pricked his skin as he sat outside in the dark.

It was peaceful. Back in Orlando there was never silence, never a quiet moment in the bustling city. Up in this small town, there were no houses around besides Echo's. Out, sitting on the porch, he was completely alone. It was nice. There was no one to hurt him.

Dream had never been alone before. He'd never thought about it before. Throughout his entire life, he'd never been in complete silence, he was always on edge at the prospect of being perceived. It was calming.

Dream didn't know he was crying until his face was wet. Oh god, how he missed silence. Not that he ever had it.

Maybe, if Dream grew old, he'd live here later in life.

"Hey."

Reality came crashing down.

"Hi," Dream choked out. He didn't turn around. He wasn't about to let Echo see him cry. She sat down next to him.

"You know, when I was younger," Echo started with a soft voice. Dream found that he didn't mind it. "I lived in the city and goddamn I loved it. I li-I really like people and being around them and I was able to there. And then my parents, when I was like eight, they told me we were moving. I was so excited, cause when you're younger you just wanna try new things. I mean we were going to live on a farm!

"It uh, it didn't take a long time for the specialness of it to wear off. I got less happy. My parents were digging themselves out of debt. My siblings were off practically killing themselves. And I was just stuck. Nothing felt right anymore."

"What'd you do to stop it?" Dream asked.

He just wanted it to stop.

Echo sighed. "I left."

They stayed silent for a bit, watching the stars.

Dream decided to break the silence. "Where'd you go?" He turned and looked at her. She was smiling with glossy eyes, still looking at the stars.

"Nashville."

"What was in Nashville?"

Echo looked at Dream. "Not what, but who."

He beckoned for her to go on.

"I met a girl." Echo sighed. "I met a girl and I fell in love. The kind of love that tears you apart. She just cared about me, y'know? And I had never had anything like that before.  And then... then she got sick, really sick.  And just like that she was gone."

Dream felt his heart break.

"It was a bad relationship anyways.  I mean, I miss her like hell don't get me wrong.  But I wasn't good to her.  Not like people are supposed to be.  I was caught up in a lot of things from my past and I-uh... I just wasn't the best."

"Why are you telling me this?"  The tears hadn't stopped.

Echo cocked her head.  "Sometimes it helps to get it out."  She smiled.

Dream sighed.  Should he open up to her?  That would be a big step.  Maybe if he does it before his brain has fully thought about it, he'll be able to be brave.

"I-I found out I was bisexual when I was like six.  Well kind of.  I got a crush on a boy when I was six, I had no idea that that meant I wasn't normal."  He saw her frown at his last word but she made no effort to stop his confession.  "One night, m-my dad found out about my crush and uh... he got angry.  He started hitting me and saying so many h-hurtful things."  Dream was full on sobbing now, hot, heavy tears drew trails down his freckled covered cheeks.

"I bottled it up for a while after that.  I didn't tell my mom, or my siblings.  Only my older sister knows.  She found out when she stopped my dad.  I-I guess it's just hard.  I'll be good, not extremely happy, but happy enough that I don't want to die.  And then suddenly my world turns upside-down again and I don't know what to do to stop it.  I am so sick and tired of feeling bad."

Echo looked at him for a little longer before she took him into her arms.  It only made Dream shake more.  

Once he had calmed down he gently pulled out of the hug.

"Do you want help or just more comfort?"

Huh.

That was nice.

Never before had Dream been asked what he wanted in a time of need.  Although, never before had Dream asked for what he wanted in a time of need.  He will try to do that more.

"Help."

"Okay...uh...well first of all, you need a therapist and maybe medication.  I know it doesn't work for everyone but you should talk to a doctor and give it a try.  Maybe also reach out to your sister you mentioned.  I'm sure it effected her a lot too and you guys could, I don't know, try to help each other through it?"  Dream gave an encouraging nod.  "And maybe also talk with your mom?"  He nodded again and Echo smiled.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

Dream hoped this wasn't a mistake.

"Can you call me Dream?"

Echo's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

Oh shit.

AN: Got a sudden boost of writing energy when I was supposed to be doing my homework!