PTSD | Sequel to Little Clifford

1

Michael's POV

A loud scream jolted me from my sleep.

I sprinted as fast as I could to Arden's room. She was tossing, turning, and sobbing... But still asleep.

I went over to her bed and shook her arm gently, "Arden, baby wake up. You're dreaming," I said softly to her.

Her eyes shot open and she immediately sat up and scooted as far back as she could. She pressed her back against the headboard and pulled her knees to her chest. Her arms wrapped her arms around her legs and she buried her head and sobbed.

I reached my hand towards her and she flinched. To say that didn't hurt would be a lie.

"I don't want to see it anymore. No more, no more," she cried.

"Baby, it's just me. Come here," I coo.

She unwraps herself from her ball and makes her way into my arms. I hold her tightly with both arms as she cried.

I used one hand to smooth the back of her hair down in a soothing manner while gently rocking us back and forth. I whispered soft 'I love you's' and 'I'm here's'.

So badly I wanted to tell her that it was a dream and only a dream. But it wasn't. She relived the car crash. She relived being taken from my arms and dragged away, not knowing where she was going or why it was happening.

"You're going to be ok, Princess. You're going to be ok," I say, trying to comfort her.

"When?" She asked, her voice breaking.

My breath hitched at her question. I didn't know. I didn't know when and I wish I did.

The boys had suggested I take her back to the doctor. We had been trying the last doctor's advice for a while now. It had been 4 months now since we ended the tour with One Direction and she had only gotten worse.

Nightmares into night terrors. Being scared into being terrified. It was awful and it was breaking me down to see her so broken.

"We are going to get you help baby. We're going to help you," I whisper to her.

I looked at the clock on her bedside table to see that it was only 3am, "Let's go to my room baby," I whisper.

I hold her on my hip and support her with one arm while I grab her stuffed bunny with my free hand.

"I don't want to sleep," she said softly, her words slurring slightly because she was tired. She was practically already asleep in my arms, her head laying on my shoulder, and her arms and legs too tired to wrap around me.

I went to my room and pulled my covers back. I sat down with her still in my arms and then laid down flat on my back so that Arden was on top of my chest.

"I don't want to sleep, Mikey," she whispered.

"I know, I know," I say and play with her hair.

Playing with her hair made her start to fall asleep. I saw her eyes droop but she quickly opened them again and tried to fight off the sleep. She did this multiple times before I moved her next to me. I slid my pillow down so that I was face to face with her, "Princess, you need to sleep. It's ok," I tell her, "I won't let anything happen to you," I whisper.

Her eyes started to droop again and she nodded. She moved her head back onto my chest and I made sure she had fallen asleep before I allowed myself to drift off.

-

I sat at the restaurant booth across from Luke; Arden was next to me, Ashton next to Luke and Calum on the other side of Arden. We were sat in a local cafe, eating breakfast together.

Arden and I were both dead tired from last night, Arden more so than I for she had to experience all of the traumatic events. Not to mention she could only sleep for 30 minutes max before waking up again, not always because of nightmares. Sometimes she just woke up for no reason, her body needed sleep.... But it didn't want it.

She had visible bags under her eyes and every once in awhile her eyes would start to shut but she would force herself awake.

"Arden, Princess, are you ok?" Ash asks with a soft smile. All the boys gave her sympathetic looks as she nodded while rubbing her eyes.

Ash just nodded back, not wanting to bring up anything else.

"Do you guys want to come over to my house after this?" Luke asked.

Calum and Ash nodded, "I can't. Arden has a doctor's' appointment. I made it first thing this morning," I tell them.

I felt Arden lean against my side and I wrapped an arm around her.

"Check up?" Calum questioned.

I shook my head and looked down to see that Arden had fallen asleep, "Therapist," I said softly.

"Good," Luke said and the boys nodded.

"It's gotten so bad. I just, I'm so horrible for letting this happen. I-" I was cut off by Ashton, "Michael."

My teary eyes lifted to meet his comforting one, "This is not your fault. Don't you ever put this on yourself," he said sternly and I nodded.

I let a tear slip from my eye, "I just want to help her," My voice cracked.

"Michael, you are an amazing brother. You noticed something was wrong and you took her to the doctors. They gave you instructions and you followed them. The problem wasn't solved and now you are taking her again. You are one of the most amazing people I have ever met. The doctors will be able to help you. You can't lose your hope. Be the positive Michael we all know and love," He says to me.

"Thank you," I say before the waitress comes over with the bill.

We pay and leave the restaurant, hoping good things will come our way soon.

A/N

I cry, I cry.

-Red