Somniphobia

Chapter 95. Safe with you

One month later....

Aria POV
I couldn't breathe.

My chest tightened so hard it felt like something was crushing me from the inside, like invisible hands wrapped around my throat, squeezing—tighter, tighter—

I tried to scream. Nothing came out.

The darkness around me felt alive, swallowing me whole, dragging me deeper and deeper until I couldn't tell where I ended and it began.

I was alone. So alone.

"C-Caleb—"

My voice came out broken, barely a whisper, like even the air didn't want to let me have it.

I reached out, but there was nothing there. No warmth. No him. Just emptiness.

Tears blurred my vision as panic clawed its way up my throat, my body shaking, my heart beating too fast, too loud—

"Aria." A voice.

Distant.

Faint.

"Aria—wake up."

I gasped at the sound of Caleb's voice.

My eyes snapped open as I sucked in air like I'd been drowning, my whole body jerking as reality crashed back into me. My chest heaved, breaths coming out uneven and shaky, my hands trembling so badly I couldn't even control them.

"Hey—hey, it's okay—" he comforted me immediately.

I sobbed into his chest, seeking his comfort right away.

Warmth—his warmth—was what I needed.

His strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into something solid, something real.

A sob tore out of my chest as I clutched onto him, my fingers gripping his shirt like he'd disappear if I let go.

"I—I c-can't—" my voice cracked, words tangling together as tears streamed down my face. "I-it w-was s-so r-real..."

"Shh... I know, I know." His voice was low and gentle, right against my ear as his hand slid up to cradle the back of my head, pressing me into his chest. "You're okay. I've got you. You're safe, princess."

I shook my head quickly, burying my face deeper into him, my body still trembling.

"N-no d-daddy, i-it f-felt—" I sucked in a shaky breath, my fingers tightening against him. "I c-couldn't b-breathe..."

"I'm here now." His hand rubbed slow, steady circles on my back. "You're breathing now, baby. It was just a bad dream. You're with me."

I tried my best to calm down and focus on breathing.

On the way his chest moved under my cheek.
The steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
The warmth of his arms around me.

But the fear was still there. Lingering. Clinging.

"D-don't l-let m-me f-fall a-asleep a-again..." I whispered, my voice small and fragile.

His arms tightened around me instantly.

"Then we won't sleep," he said without hesitation. "Daddy's here, baby."

My throat tightened at that, fresh tears slipping down my cheeks as I nodded against him, still holding on like he was the only thing keeping me together.

Maybe he was.

I didn't want to stay in the dark. Every shadow felt wrong. All the silence felt too loud.