Chasing the truth

The nightmare

"Oh, come on," Evie nudged. "Nice? You can do better than that. Did you at least make it to the third base?"

Ethan nearly choked on his tea, his eyes widening as he looked at her in shock. The suddenness of the question caught him off guard, leaving him fumbling for words. "I—uh—no, I mean... it wasn't like that," he stammered, his face now fully flushed.

Roy, who had been listening quietly, shot Evie a disapproving look. "Evie, come on, that's a bit personal, don't you think?"

Evie immediately realized she had crossed a line and raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just kidding around."

Ethan waved off her apology, though the awkwardness lingered in the air. "It's okay," he said, setting his cup down on the coffee table. "But it's late, and I should probably get going."

Evie reached out to gently touch his arm, her expression sincere. "I really am sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean anything by it."

Ethan offered her a small smile. "It's fine, really. I just have an early start tomorrow." He stood up, prompting Cherry to trot over to him, tail wagging.

Roy got up as well, giving Ethan a brief hug. "Take care, man. And don't let her scare you off."

Ethan chuckled, his mood lightening a bit. "I'll try not to. Thanks, Roy."

Evie walked him to the door, still feeling a bit guilty. "I hope you had a good time tonight, despite my big mouth."

Ethan smiled softly as he clipped Cherry's leash on. "I did, Evie. Thanks. And don't worry about it."

The night air was cool as Ethan stepped outside, Cherry trotting happily beside him. The walk home was short, but it gave him time to think about the day as he lit the cigarette he had been desperately wanting to. Jay had been wonderful—kind, attentive, funny. However, every time Ethan's heart started to flutter with excitement, he forced himself to temper it, reminding himself of the walls he needed to keep up. He couldn't let himself get too close, not with the unresolved issues from his past that were unknown to him too.

When he got home, Ethan filled Cherry's water bowl and watched as she lapped at it. "What a day, huh, girl?" he murmured, giving her a gentle pat on the head.

Exhaustion tugged at him as he finally headed to bed, but sleep did not come easily. His mind was restless, filled with half-formed thoughts and the echoes of his date with Jay. Eventually, he drifted off, but the peace of sleep was shattered some hours later by a nightmare.

Ethan found himself in a dark, unfamiliar room. A young boy was there, his face twisted in fear as a shadowy figure loomed over him. The air was thick with dread, and Ethan felt a suffocating pressure in his chest as he tried to move, to help the boy, but his body was frozen in place. The figure's hand reached out toward the boy, and Ethan's heart pounded in his ears, the scene searing itself into his mind.

Suddenly, Ethan jolted awake, his heart racing, his body drenched in sweat. His breathing was ragged as he tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. He stumbled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face. His hands gripped the edge of the sink as he leaned over it, trying to steady himself.

A soft scratching at the bathroom door pulled him from his thoughts. After a moment he opened it to find Cherry looking up at him with concerned eyes, sensing his distress.

"Hey, girl," Ethan whispered, scooping her up into his arms with his hands still trembling slightly . He buried his face in her fur, finding comfort in her warmth. "It's okay. It was just a nightmare... it felt too real, but it was just a dream."

A nightmare that disrupted his sleep frequently.

He held Cherry close, letting her presence soothe him as he slowly regained his composure. The nightmare had shaken him deeply, the images lingering in his mind, but Cherry's steady heartbeat against his chest reminded him that he wasn't alone. Eventually, he carried her back to bed, where she curled up beside him, and he tried to sleep. But his efforts were in vain as sleep eluded him, so he got up and picked up an unfinished book from the side table and continued reading until his eyelids felt heavy and finally sleep came to him.

Ethan jolted awake, the bed feeling colder where Cherry usually curled up beside him. He sat up, glancing around until he spotted her, already awake and eager for his attention. With a grin, he called her over, and she bounded toward him, her tail wagging furiously. He spent a few quiet minutes playing with her, letting her nuzzle into his hands before he reached for his phone.

Evie had texted an apology, and as he read it, a familiar unease crept into his chest. Her question had hit too close to home, leaving him spiraling into thoughts about his future with Jay. Could he ever let Jay get close enough to explore the parts of him he kept hidden?

A soft bark from Cherry snapped him out of his thoughts, reminding him that she was waiting. He quickly typed a reply to Evie, assuring her that the conversation was already forgotten.

"Yeah, I know. I still need to pack for the hiking trip tomorrow," he said, looking down at Cherry, who was now sitting patiently by the bed. "And yes, I know you want to go out. Just give me a few more minutes, okay?"

Cherry tilted her head as if understanding, and with a small smile, Ethan got up to start his morning routine. Ten minutes later, they were both outside, the crisp morning air clearing away the remnants of his earlier worries.