Ashling

Chapter 13

I wake up with a jerk and for a second I have no clue where I am.

I adjust my vision to the lights surrounding me and notice that I'm in the vortex tunnel with Cassandra sitting beside. She's looking at me with a concerned and amused expression.

"Hey.." She starts, "Are you alright? You seem a bit shaken."

I blink a couple of times and then clear my throat.
"How long was I asleep?"

"You dozed off for like, two minutes?"

I press the heel of my palms on my eyes. She must think I got bored by her company, oh God. This is horrible.
"I'm so sorry, I have no idea how I just dozed off like that.. It hasn't happened before."

She waves it off, "It's completely fine, really. You don't have to apologize. You must've been tired."

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"Honestly, at first I didn't even notice. But when I did, I couldn't bring myself to wake you up. You looked.. Peaceful. Calm."

She looks at me, and I swallow. I have never felt the urge to hold her more than in this moment, in this vortex tunnel where the room is literally moving except us. Two people who're sitting very still beside each other.. I take a shaky breath and start, "I had a dream.."

She positions her body to face me, letting me know that I have her full attention. I continue, "I saw that I was falling from this bridge, but then someone told me to trust myself and let go."

"Did you?" She asks.

I nod my head and she then asks, "So what then?"

"I realized it was all in my head. I.. I saved myself."

She smiles softly, there's happiness and genuineness on her face.
"Sometimes, all you need is a dream to tumble on the right path again. I'm glad I didn't wake you up."

I have never felt this way before. It's a mixture of gratitude and happiness and relief. I have never felt more exhilarated. This girl sitting right in front of me, with her hair pulled back in a messy bun, her dress now full of creases, she saved me in my dreams. She saved me; both literally and figuratively.

I give her a grateful smile and we both stand up. This time, I don't hold the ropes for support at all.

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"No really, there's no need. I take the subway from here every day and go home." Cassandra is currently trying to convince me to not drop her home.

"It's 10:00! I can't just let you go alone so late. It's not safe." There is absolutely no way I'm letting her go. Not happening.

She takes a frustrated deep breath and says, "Tyler, I appreciate you being so concerned about me, but I know how to take care of myself." She speaks with authority and I can't help but admire the strength in her voice. "Plus, we may have spent 3 hours together, but that doesn't mean I trust you fully to let you take me home. What if you kidnap me?" She asks playfully, her voice full of humour now.

I roll my eyes dramatically and say, "So that means I'm gonna have to spend more time with you to gain your trust?"

She looks a bit taken aback and her cheeks turn a light shade of red. I can't help but do a mental "Ha! Gotcha!".

She cocks her eyebrow and says, "Maybeeee.."

I nod and do a salute saying, "Yes ma'am!"

She laughs and shakes her head, gently tucking a lose strand behind her ear. This simple gesture makes my stomach twist.

"I should head off. It was fun hanging out with you, thank you." She says.

"I'm glad you agreed to spend your evening with me." I tell her.

She does a little hand wave and starts to walk away.

"Will I see you again?"

She swiftly turns around and raises her eyebrows in question.

"Will I get to see you again?" I ask her.

She gives me a mischievous smile and says, "Let's see, if our paths cross."

I grin and say, "Trust me, they will."

She nervously bites her lips and mouths "bye", then walks away.

As I watch her walk away, I know that there's a reason she has been coming in my dreams even before I knew her. And I swear to God, I have never felt so thankful.