Trauma - Skephalo

Chapter 25: I'm Right Here With You

Darryl's Pov:

Zak says cautiously, "Is it... fine if you explain what happened just now?"

I look back down and place my head on Zak's chest. My breath hitches from the vision I'm getting of the nightmare. I lay there for a bit in Zak's embrace. He just sits there waiting patiently as he gently runs a hand up and down my back in a soothing manner. I feel myself get less tense and relax into his touch. I finally say, "I... had a nightmare."

God, saying just that makes it sound pathetic that I'm this scared over a mere nightmare that can't physically do anything to me. But it can sure hurt me mentally if it pulls the right strings... Before Zak can say something, I add more so that it makes me seem less pathetic by saying, "It was about- him..."

For a second, it feels as though Zak isn't breathing. His chest that I have my head placed on top of was steadily rising up and down, but it suddenly stopped. Quickly, it starts gently rising and falling again as he cautiously asks, "If you don't mind me asking... what- did he do?"

I wrap my arms around him as well and bury my head deeper into his chest. I then mumble out, "He- got into our apartment, you weren't there- and he was basically saying how much he wants me all to himself and th-then he took me to my r...room and was going to-"

I cut myself off with a sharp inhale as I try to slow my breathing since it was starting to get quicker as I was talking. But even though I didn't finish, it seems as though Zak understood as he asks, "He... didn't get to do it, right...?"

Even though it was just a nightmare, I could feel the tension of Zak's anger rising. I stutter out, "T-thankfully no-t. But he did take off my sh-shirt and was about to take o-ff my p-...pants- but then I woke u-up."

Zak takes a deep breath as he tries to calm down his anger. He then says, "Well, you have nothing to worry about now. I'm right here, and he won't hurt you as long as I'm here with you. Nobody will hurt you."

I tiny smile forms on my lips from his words. I then hear Zak silently mutter out, "That b*tch doesn't derseve you..."

But I don't think that he meant to say that from how quiet it was. I just decide to ignore it and continue embracing Zak. After a while, Zak breaks the hug to look at me, cup my cheek, and say, "Are you feeling better now?"

I give him a small smile on my face and nod while humming out a yes. Zak returns a warm smile, but it slowly fades away as he slowly says, "Do you... want me to stay, or- should I leave...?"

I stay silent at the question. I feel myself completely pulling away from Zak to sit properly on my bed, feeling my pillows behind me. I start fiddling with my fingers as Zak silently watches me, waiting. I then glance at the empty spot on the bed right beside me, contemplating whether he should stay or not. Then, a memory comes up of when Oliver was laying beside me for a moment after he- did it to me. I visibly shudder at the memory. Zak notices it, and his gaze saddens a bit, but he quickly musters up a sad smile and says, "Don't worry, if you don't want me to stay, it's fine. I understand."

He then starts standing up from the bed, but before he does, I quickly rush to grab his hand and exclaim, "Wait!"

Zak stops and raises an eyebrow at me. I muster up all the courage I can get to say, "D-don't misunderstand. I- I do want you to stay, it's just..."

I trail off as I glance to the empty space beside me as Zak watches intently. I continue by saying, "I don't think I can properly sleep with someone in the same- bed as me..."

My head drops down as I gaze below me. Once I look up, I'm surprised to see Zak smiling at me. He just simply says, "I understand."

Without another word, he gets up and starts walking away. For a moment, I get worried, but then I'm sprawled with confusion as Zak starts picking up my desk chair. He brings it over and places it right next to me beside the bed. I nervously ask, "Wha- Why did you...?"