Motivation of Memories: The Second Book of the Labors of Love Series

Night Cap

Prince's POV

"My poor baby." I say softly as Genevieve rests with her head in my lap on the bus. The pills didn't help. Well that's not true, they worked too well. She fell asleep fast and even mostly slept through the night but she tossed and turned for hours and then it got worse. She told me she got stuck between her dreams and the waking world. She laid in bed with her eyes wide open as her inky black nightmares seeped in through the corners of the room. She told me she tried to scream as large shadowy creatures crept towards her but despite the ringing in her vocal chords her mouth never opened. I was in the shower during this and when I left the bathroom I saw her laying there breathing frantically as tears streamed down her face. Our eyes locked from across the room, my towel fell as she begged me for help with her eyes.

She needs me.

I thought as I dashed to the bed. I put her head in my hands, massaging the tightened muscles in her jaw. Her eyes never left mine. She begged me to make it end.

"L...lirm...", she began to speak. Her voice was small like that of someone who refused to speak out loud until this moment. "Li...light. Light!" She shouted hoarsely. I turned on the lamp beside me and her body shot up from the bed.

"What do you n-"

"Water." She coughs, her throat wheezing with soreness and exhaustion. I pass her the glass and as quickly as she takes it she hands it back empty. "M-more."

I refilled her glass a few times and comforted her as she drank. When her voice returned we talked about it and I did my best to get her to sleep.

She got maybe 5 hours of sleep. It wasn't good sleep but it's better than the 2 hours she had been getting. I am pretty mad those allergy pills didn't help. I wonder what it will take. The good news is she made it through the show and now she can get back to sleep.

"I have an idea but you aren't going to like it." Andre says from across the aisle.

"What is it?"

"Please just help me get some sleep." She groans without moving.

Andre walks to his bunk and pulls out a brown paper bag. He hands it to her as she sits up, rubbing her eyes.

"You want her to drink herself to sleep?"

"It'll work." He shrugs.

"I'm sure it will but she can't get drunk every night just to sleep."

"G, how many shots would get you drunk enough to sleep?"

"Of this?" She asks peeking into the bag. "Probably like a third of this bottle."

"No, Andre."

"It's not a permanent solution but for right now it's our best bet."

"Give me the damn bottle." Genevieve demands.

"Genevieve, I'm not letting you do this."

"Mi don need yuh permission tuh duh a bloody ting. Mi a grown wuhman and mi no had gud nights sleep in a mi no know how long. Be glad mi no jink di whole bokkle outta spite." Her words are sharp but she's right. I take a step back and leave her to it. She pours the liquor into a glass and looks down at the thick gold liquid. This is some new tequila Andre likes. She lifts it to her lips and begins taking long sips, almost like she's drinking cold water after a work out. She groans, placing the empty cup back on the table before flopping down into my bunk.

"Well I guess that's that." Andre shrugs climbing into his bunk as well. I walk to my bunk and climb in after her.

"I really wish you hadn't done that."