He Was Her All 3: Enough is Enough✔️

Chapter 35: Nature

Mariana squeezed her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she gripped onto the sheets. Her chest burned with her anxious heart trying to break free like she was trying to escape her nightmare. But no matter how she tried to force herself awake, her body was paralyzed in the land of her subconscious, leaving her stuck until it decided to release her.

She could discern nothing except impenetrable, murky darkness that was void with any noise. Her body felt hollow and the darkness was so thick she felt it forcing her eyes shut, suffocating her airways. It pressed down on her like a heavyweight in the form of a smoking cloud.

Faint beeping noises leaped around in her ears like little crickets. Her eyes jumped to catch up with them, but she didn't know where they were coming from. Her temples dripped with water as the beeps got louder and evil cackles evolved from them. She once more tried wiggling away but nothing worked, until someone slammed open a enormous door, twined their fingers together with a smirk, and walked in.

"Time for me to make use of you, my sweet little niece..."

Mariana finally woke as she jolted herself away. She panted out like she had been running a marathon, but it felt like she was just fighting for her life in her own dream.

She gradually regained her breath as she looked around. She was back in her bedroom with the brilliant moon shining through like a nightlamp. The trees were rustling against the window quietly, like they were trying to soothe her. She also heard Micah snoring as he faced the other side.

She squeezed her arm and was relieved when she felt the shooting pain in her nerves. She was back safe in her own house, but now she felt unsafe by going to sleep again. Even though she had a lava lamp to provide light, that wasn't enough this time, so she got up and flicked on the light.

She jumped when she suddenly overheard Micah groaning and cursing from the bed.

"Who turned on the light?"

"Sorry! Had a bad dream so I would like the light on."

"Why? We have the lamp right there..." he mumbled half-asleep.

"Please, just for this one night?" She pleaded with favourable eyes.

Micah grumbled and pulled the sheets over his head. He slithered in like a turtle so that he was completely under the covers. "I can't stand sleeping with the light on..."

Mariana walked back to the bed and climbed in. She was no longer tired but spooked by her nightmare, so she decided to play with her fingers.

She groaned and lowered her head down. The faint moonlight caught her eye, and she traced it to the windowsill with a smile, but it was a sad one. She didn't like living like this. Her kids far away from her, reliving the whole nightmare of getting a family member taken away, and uncertain if she'll get them back or not.

She just wanted this whole ordeal to end.

She sighed and went back to bed, but didn't go to sleep straight away.

****

Mariana walked out of a bakery with a pastry. She bit into it, letting some stray bits rip off like dandelions and settle on her chin. She wiped some sweat off her brow and pulled flapped her top. She suffered a headache this morning during her fieldwork so when she was free, she decided to get some water and a quick snack.

One more thing she had to do, was to return to the office and type up what she found, but her eyes leaked tears of exhaustion. After last night, she just wanted to back to sleep. Even walking to her workplace, she felt like dropping on the floor and napping for the rest of the day.