Fractured Desires

Chapter 2

My eyes snap open, and I gasp for air, the lingering remnants of the nightmare fading like mist into the ether.

As I stare at the ceiling, a fog of confusion envelops me. The room is cloaked in darkness, with only the faint glimmer of the rising sun outside casting feeble light upon the walls. I feel disoriented, like a traveler emerging from a dense forest into an unfamiliar clearing.

It takes a few moments for my racing heart to find its rhythm, and I blink several times to reassure myself that I'm awake. I place my hands on my face and pinch one of my cheeks, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I wince in pain. The sharp sting is a visceral reminder that I'm awake, that I've escaped the clutches of the nightmare.

"Fuck my life," I whisper under my breath as I rub my groggy eyes.

It's been two months since the last time I endured a nightmare like that. Two months of peace and quiet, without dreaming the same dream that's been haunting me for years. Truth be told, I was starting to wonder if I'd have the same dream again...

Sometimes it feels like some supernatural force is fucking with me, haunting me with emotions that I'd long hope to forget. It seems as though that same nightmarish specter always seems to return to me unfailingly, a cruel reminder of the miserable life I once endured... Thankfully, the nightmare is over... For now.

As I shift under the covers, I become acutely aware of the dampness clinging to my body. My shirt is soaking wet, sticking uncomfortably to my skin. To be honest, I'm a bit embarrassed that this bloody dream still seems to have this sort of effect on me, even after all this time... I mean, after a decade of having the same dream, I should be better at coping with it... Right?

I sit up, discarding my sweat-soaked shirt as I prepare to cast off the lingering echoes of that haunting nightmare. But just as I'm about to step away from my bed, a soft, gentle hand reaches out from under the covers and takes hold of my wrist.

What the fuck!?!

My heart leaps in my chest, and for a brief, heart-pounding moment, fear courses through me like an electric shock.

My first instinct is to pull away, to recoil from the unexpected touch.

As my racing heart gradually steadies, the fog of fear begins to lift. Fragments of the previous night's memories begin to resurface, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle falling into place. The scent of her perfume, the soft laughter that had filled the room, and the intimate moments we'd shared—all remnants of my night with Becky, the woman I spent the night with.

My breath escapes in a shaky exhale as I let my body relax. The room transforms from an enigmatic maze into a sanctuary of familiarity. I glance to my side, where Becky lies, her tousled hair framing her serene face.

"So, did you enjoy last night?" Becky asks, pulling me under the covers with a playful tug.

Now that our faces are practically inches apart, I notice her eyes sparkling with a hint of morning mischief and I can't help but chuckle. Over the past three months, she's been nothing short of persistent, throwing herself at me, quite literally at times, and I've been playing hard to get.

No, that doesn't sound right... My cold behavior toward her wasn't meant to encourage her but in fact to do the opposite... I mean, truth be told, I was never really interested in sleeping with Becky...

Yesterday, though, was a different story. As I returned home, weary from the day's demands, there she was, waiting for me in the lobby of my apartment complex, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and a bottle of wine in hand. Maybe it was the nagging twinge of loneliness or just a longing for some genuine connection that had finally tipped the scales, prompting me to let my guard down and, well, spend the night with her.