Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 71

Mira Lynne woke to a faint whimpering. Looking around, she realized it was Cat. She got out of bed and walked to Cat's room.

"Cat? Are you okay?"

Mira Lynne saw Cat thrashing about, talking incoherently. Mira Lynne walked over to the bed and reached out for Cat. Pausing, she pulled her hand away, knowing Cat is very private and may not like being woken up.

"Cat? Cat, are you alright?"

Cat sat up with a start, gasping.

"Hey, hey, you're okay. You're safe." Mira Lynne didn't know what dream Cat had, but she had experienced enough nightmares to know when someone woke up from one. She sat on the edge of the bed.

Cat's eyes looked around frantically. "You're okay. It's only us here. No one else."

Cat looked at Mira Lynne more clearly. She took a deep breath. "Thank goodness."

"Ummm, do you want to tell me what all that was about?"

Cat thought about the dream. Her reality. Her nightmare. "I— I don't know if I should. Or can."

"Okay. If you want to, I'll be here, if you don't want to, I'll be here." Mira Lynne smiled at Cat.

"I appreciate it. Thank you, Mira Lynne." She glanced at the door for a moment, then looked down.

Mira Lynne studied the woman discreetly. She had been through so much in her young life. She did not deserve any of what had happened to her. Mira Lynne's heart broke for what all Cat had been through in just the short amount of time they'd worked together.

"I really, really hope Damien doesn't find out about what I told Gwen..." She said quietly.

"How could he? They didn't find any bugs, right?"

"Just because they didn't find them doesn't mean they're not there... The whole idea of it invaded my rest. Sleep was the one time I felt the safest... It just... Ugh."

"I'm sorry." Mira Lynne looked down.

"It's okay, Mira Lynne. None of this is your fault."

"Do—," Mira Lynne looked to Cat, "do you mind if I ask how your relationship started? I mean, I know you met in that class, but what happened?"

"I should tell you. It had completely slipped my mind." She took a deep breath.

"I remember... I remember having a really bad day. To the point where I didn't even want to go to class, but I knew I should. The lesson was enticing and I didn't want to miss it."

"Those classes are always nice."

"There were so many other people in that class. Why did he choose me..."

"He probably thought you were the most beautiful."

Cat looked up at Mira Lynne, blushing to the roots of her hair. "S-Surely not!"

Mira Lynne smiled. "We normally don't understand what our own looks and beauty can do to others."

"If you say so... Anyways..." She paused.

Mira Lynne stayed silent, listening and waiting.

"Ah! Right. Sorry, I lost my train of thought. I went to class, but didn't really pay much attention. I just saw people leaving and tried to get my stuff as quickly as I could, but Damien caught me before I could leave."

~~ About a year and a half ago~~

As he dismissed the class, he saw Cat rushing to get her things gathered and leave the class.