Memories in the Dark DNF

Panic

(TW: Panic attacks)

The blades of grass sway in the wind, brushing Dream's face lightly. Birds chirp to the left of him as the sun sets. Dream stays silent as the sky grows darker. He counts the stars as they appear in the sky until there are too many for him to count. A rustling to his right disturbs him and he sits up. The whispering voices that come from the darkness attack him. The attacks are verbal, leaving Dream defenseless.

 The truth throws itself at him and burrows it's way into his brain, rooting itself deep inside. Thoughts flood in faster than ever before and Dream clutches his head. Pulling his legs to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Dream rocks back and forth. His chest rises and falls as the thoughts swarm his mind. 

Realizations of the truth he wants to hide drown him as he starts to sob. The breaths he let out are fast and heaving. It hurts to keep breathing this way but he can't stop as his chest rises and falls multiple times in a matter of seconds.

He starts to shake until he feels hands on his arms and shoulders. He opens his eyes, George's frantic face is inches away shaking him violently. He stops moving and Dream realizes that he's awake. The silence is deafening as the two stare at each other. Then, George brings him closer, hugging him.

George holds him close like he's afraid to let him go. Dream lets out shaky breaths as he attempts to bring his breathing to a regular rhythm.

 George speaks yet his voice is barely above a whisper. "Dream...When I was younger I had a cousin who was about 3 years younger than me. We were at a family gathering I think. She was the only person close to my age but when I asked where she was no one knew. I looked for her outside and found her crying in the backyard. She stepped on a thorny branch without shoes on and I remember she was crying because she was worried that she was going to die. I'd never seen anybody so afraid before. She was breathing just like you are now, she was convinced she was going to die. I held her close to me and I told her a story, the story was about you actually. I told her about our first fight. It was so long ago I almost didn't remember the whole story. I remembered bits and pieces, I told her about how I messaged you to no avail. How I cried late into the night, afraid I had lost my best friend. How I couldn't breathe, how I felt myself slipping. I had called Sap that night, and he told me a story from his childhood. It calmed me down and I remember thinking that if I ever saw anybody experiencing pain like that, I would tell them a story. It helped me, and it helped my cousin too. I told her the story and when I was done she was fast asleep in my arms. I later found out she'd had a panic attack. Dream I don't know what you dreamt about that caused this reaction but please know I'm here for you. Don't be embarrassed, I've been there okay? We may be adults but adults have feelings too and I don't want to make fun of you. I'm here, and so are you, it was a dream okay? It wasn't real, the only real thing right now is me here with you..."

George held his breath, had he said too much? Dream wasn't responding yet he also wasn't breathing erratically anymore. George let out a long relived breath. Dream was going to be okay, he'd done the right thing. 

Dream and George stayed together like that for a long time. George wanted to be there for him, even through his legs falling asleep he didn't get up. Eventually Dream let go of him, laying down against the couch. His eyes were shut tight.  George knew he needed to eat lunch as it was only noon and they'd been together in the basement all morning. He gently took Dream's hand and turned it palm up. George traced a heart with his finger on Dream's palm.

As he traced, George whispered "You give me your hand and I give you my heart, hold it close to yours and we'll never be apart." 

As he spoke the last few words George guided Dream's hand to his chest, placing his palm on his slowing sleepy breath. George got up from the couch without saying a word. Before he walked upstairs, George turned around, taking one last look at Dream.

Dream's palm still lied on his heart however something had changed. A warm smile had snuck onto Dream's face. 

That smile made it's way to George too.

Words: 811