Our Great Love

Chapter 24: Joe

As I hold her hand and leave the dorm building I rub my thumb over her palm every once in a while to comfort her because I'm still not quite sure she's okay.

I was scared shitless when I woke up to her screaming and kicking. I literally jumped out of bed and stood there shocked, as I watched her fight herself while yelling at out loud at someone to get off her but there wasn't anyone there. That's when I knew she was having a nightmare or a night terror. One of my old teammates used to have them during our sleepovers when we had away games. Since we all roomed up together in hotels to save money. He said he got them because of trauma he had from his foster parents when he was younger. He explained that his foster father used to get super drunk and strangle him in his sleep for fun, he used to say that when he was stressed or anxious they'd get worse. Thankfully before high school he got adopted by this wonderful family who's like my aunt and uncle now since me and him hung out so much. Sadly he stayed in state for college while I went away because of the full ride and the distance from my parents.

I finally come back to the present and realize that me and lil have reached the bagel shop. Sadly it's not open so she turns back around and I follow her silently while I continue to hold her hand. I look at her for a second and I still can tell she is lost in her thoughts and far away from me and the now. I hate that she is stuck there and I hate even more that she doesn't want to talk about it but I also know that we are still sort of strangers. All I know is that once I find out who was hurting her in her dreams, I'll be finding them and make them wish they never laid eyes on my girl. Wait! She's not my girl ......yet, I can't ask her again for a week or so because now I know she truly does need time to figure things out and for us to get to know each other more. Speak of that I know I promised to be quiet but I need her to come back to the present and realize that she is okay, so I think asking her a question will help distract her and help us get closer.

"Hey lil, I know I said I'd be quiet but I feel like you need a distraction. Can I ask you a question, I promise it's a good one." I say smiling at her as we keep walking towards her dorm.

"Yeah" she says with a small smile that makes me feel a bit better.

"Why do you like stuffed animals?" I say remembering how many she had and the one I just got her.

She looks ahead as chews on her lip as she thinks and they move alone draws me in to look at her gorgeous soft pink lips. They are full and beautiful, and because of personal experience I know how sweet they taste and how truly soft they are. I get so lost in the idea of pressing mine to hers that I don't realize we are at the dorms building until she lets go over my hand and opens the buildings door. I hold it out and walk in after her. I wait for her answer but before I ask again she speaks.

"I was gonna answer right away but we were close to the dorms and I figured I'd just explain it while I show you each one" she says smiling as she unlocks her door and heads in. I follow her and sit on her bed near her stuffed animals. She joins me and grabs the first one.

"This is strawberry, I got her when I was little from my mom and she used to make barking noises but not anymore. This is her sister named chocolate" she says as she holds up a pink and then a brown stuffed dog.

"This is Carmel and I got him on Valentine's Day from my mom, he was originally holding Carmel candies which is why that's his name" she says smiling as she holds up a tan cheetah with black spots.

"This is rose, I got her at a mall me, my mom and my grandma went to a lot in California, she used to have a lanyard sown to her neck so I could carry her around but it ripped off long time ago" she says holding up a pink sea turtle with a shell covered in flowers.

"This is bear, which I know isn't original but it seemed like a good name and I got him at Disneyland when I was little" she says holding up a black bear from the Disney movie Brave.