Lead Me Out of the Dark

Beautiful Silence

“What the fuck do you mean she’s still asleep? She’s been crying for half an hour!” Who was crying? Why was it so dark in here?

                “She’s crying in her sleep. She’ll wake up very shortly.  Until she wakes up, we’re going to have to ask you to leave the room.” Crying in your sleep? That’s ridiculous.

                “Like Hell I’m leaving!” I felt my lips move. Don’t leave. The words seemed to come of their own volition. My brain was on autopilot.

                “I’m right here. I’m not leaving, I promise.” A voice declared.

                “Sir, we’re going to have to ask you to-” the voice continued again, but I interrupted them. They were unimportant, anyways. My throat was on fire, and my eyes burned.

                “Deck?” I asked, praying that it was him who was in the room with me. I wasn’t sure where I was, but I knew I needed to apologize to him. My eyes opened slowly, and I winced at the harshness of the light. It was blinding, and my eyes already burned. I sniffled reflexively, and I realized I needed a tissue. Badly.

                “I’m here, I’m right here,” he promised, leaping to my bedside. He seemed wary, as if he was unsure of whether or not I was awake or asleep. When I locked eyes with him, and he saw that I was fully awake and functioning, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He sat on the edge of the bed and his arms were around me instantaneously, and mine were around him.

                “Don’t ever do that to me again!” Deck snarled, but I knew he wasn’t really angry. His voice was laced with relief. I hugged him closer, happy to have him near me again. I wasn’t sure where I was, or why I was here, but there was one thing I was sure of, and that was my relationship with Deck. Despite my best attempts, he’d become an amazing friend, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything. His arms were warm and secure around me. He smelled strongly of old spice, and the smell comforted me more than words ever could. It was only then that I started remembering what had happened yesterday. I had agreed to go to prom with Jack, and I’d hurt Deck’s feelings. We’d gotten into a huge fight…

                “I’m sorry Deck, I’m so sorry!” I sobbed. So I was the girl who was crying in her sleep. The tears came too easily, and my lip trembled slightly. I felt horrible.

                “You’re sorry? I kissed that girl right in front of you. I was being an ass, and I don’t know what I was thinking…” he trailed off. I shook my head.

                “No, it was all my fault! I never should have said yes to Jack. It’s just… what happened after we got into that fight? I remember… Oh,” I gasped. I’d gotten a bottle of Jack Daniel’s from John, and I’d chugged the entire bottle, intending to go to my cliff. I couldn’t remember if I’d made it there or not. I remembered the bright flash of headlights… Jack’s SUV… Oh no. Jack had almost raped me. Then Deck had beaten him to death… The heart monitor beeped loudly, and Deck nodded, as if he knew what I was remembering.

                “Wait a sec. John…” I trailed off, my eyes wide. Deck smiled.

                “John’s fine. He got away with only a couple of bruises.” He answered. I let out a long breath. Thank the good God.

                “Are you okay? You killed Jack. You must feel horrible and this is all my fault-” I ranted, my hands shaking with paranoia. What if Deck had started cutting himself again because he felt so horrible about what had happened?