Drugs

I can't breath

Derek woke to the sound of sobbing coming from Meredith's room. Without hesitation, he rushed in and found her trembling, her body curled tightly on the bed. Her breathing was heavy, each gasp sharp and uneven. He moved quickly to her side.

"Mer, wake up," he said softly, gently shaking her shoulders.

Meredith jerked awake, her eyes wide with panic. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head in her lap, sobbing uncontrollably. Her breathing got heavier and Derek's concern deepened.

"Mer, calm down," he said, pulling her into a hug. "I need you to breathe for me. Take a deep breath, okay? Breathe with me."
He spoke softly into her ear. "You're okay. No one is going to hurt you." His voice was calm, his hand stroking her hair soothingly.

Meredith's breathing began to even out. The trembling and the tears slowed. Derek sighed in relief.

"What happened? Was it a nightmare?"

"Yeah... something like that," she mumbled. In truth, she had taken dopamine-enhancing drugs earlier, knowing they often triggered these episodes. But she couldn't bring herself to tell Derek. She was too afraid of his reaction.

After a brief silence, she hesitated before speaking again. "Ca-can you maybe stay? Just hold me?" Her voice wavered. "But you can go back to your room if you want. You don't have to stay. Forget I said anything. I'm sorry."

Derek smiled softly. "No, Mer, I'd love to stay."

"Thanks," she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

-
The alarm clock beeped at 6 a.m. telling them to get ready for work. Meredith groaned, she didn't want to get up. She wished she could stay, with Derek, in bed all day, cuddling.
„Mer we need to get up, otherwise we'll  be late for work"
„Ugh I don't want to" she mumbled half asleep. She wasn't a morning person. Derek pulled her out of bed. She got dressed and walked downstairs, smelling coffee. She walked towards Derek, hugging him from behind.
„Good morning sleepyhead" he laughed sightly
„Morning" she grumbled
„Not a morning person huh?"
„Not really" she took a sip from the coffee cup, while they were walking towards their cars.
„We can drive to the hospital with my car. I'll bring you back home tonight then" he smiled
„Um yeah thanks" she smiled sightly. They got into the car. He started driving. A few minutes later the silence became to awkward.
„Do you remember about having a nightmare last night?" he had a concerned face
„Yeah I do actually...why?"
„What was it about? Do you have nightmares regularly?"
She hesitated but gave him a bit of the truth
„Well I do sometimes. It was just about a thing that happened to me as a child" she said
„What happened?"
„I don't wanna talk about this but it was bad" she gave him a fake smile, knowing she lied to him again. Well she did have sometimes nightmares about her past but not last night. They arrived at the hospital and got out. He kissed her on her cheek.
„See you later" he smiled
„See you" she smiled back