Soak Up The Sun

Everytime

December 1995

Liam had spent weeks studying the notes his guide had given him about Sophie until he was fully caught up. And learning more and falling deeper in love with her everyday. He felt like he'd been resuscitated. That she'd resuscitated him back from the dead.

Sophie's strange nightmares had been continuing off and on. Blood splattered porcelain. Screams. She couldn't make sense of it and she didn't want to because then she'd have to go back. And lying beside the boy she was currently in love with listening to the rain against her windows was the only place she'd ever felt truly home. But that choice got taken out of her hands. You can't run from your past forever and she'd already been running for a year.

Liam awoke with a start alone in Sophie's bed. Where was she? He sat up with a start patting the mattress where she'd been lying. Still warm. He heard a sound. The sound that had woken him up. Retching. He stood up shuffling into his boxers quickly as he knocked on the bathroom he could see the crack of light filtering out from inside. He heard more retching then sniffling. His heart began to pound. He knocked on the door lightly. No answer.

"Soph, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Go back to bed." She said in a weak, muffled voice.

Liam turned the doorknob. Locked.

"Soph. Unlock the door. I'm panicking like fuck out here. Let me help you if you're sick. Come on."

Shuffling. A toilet flushing and then Sophie opened the door. Her face was as pale as he'd ever seen it her freckles standing out in a sickly way. Her skin was dewy with sweat. She was shaking like a leaf as she brushed her teeth. Liam softly attempted to touch her shoulder and she shrugged him off. She spat in the sink and rinsed her mouth.

"Don't...don't touch me just...stay back."

Liam frowned from her cold, detached tone.

"Soph...I'm so scared right now. What's going on?"

Sophie shook her head dismissively.

"A bad dream that's all. Get back to bed." She said coldly.

Liam frowned and stopped her walking past him with his hand.

She flinched out of his grasp.

"Please don't touch me."

Liam stood back giving her space even though it was the last thing he wanted to do.

"A bad dream? That made you throw up? Soph...talk to me for fuck sake." He said firmly.

Sophie moved back to the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed wordlessly. Liam poured her a glass of water and placed it in her shaking hands.

He sat beside her but with lots of space between them waiting patiently for her to speak.

"I've been having bad dreams for months." She whispered.

Liam gazed at her softly.

"What kind of bad dreams?" He asked gently.

Sophie swallowed and exhaled shakily. She brought the glass to her lips with shaking fingers and Liam gently supported the glass for her careful not to touch her skin. Sophie gently let go of the glass and let Liam help her. She felt like a stupid kid. The tenderness of his actions caused her to burst into uncontrollable tears.

Liam sat beside her with a pained expression on his face feeling completely helpless. Sophie gazed at him through her tears.

"Why do you want a mess like me Liam? I'm so sorry. I've been lying to you this whole time."