So This Is Love?

CHAPTER 13 | Reliving Nightmares

CHAPTER 13 ~ Zach's POV

I step out onto the plush green grass which is situated in my backyard as a cool breeze gushes past. It's sweltering hot and I'm dressed in black shorts and a pale blue tank top to try and minimise the amount of clothing I am wearing so I'm not as hot. The only thought running through my mind is that damn I wish I had a pool on days like this. After my two hour walk this morning my feet are sore from standing up so much so I hastily walk over towards the big shady oak tree in the corner of the yard. I lie down under the branches of the tree which provide much needed shelter from the sun and rest my feet. Drifting slowly off to sleep. Eyes becoming heavy and brain shutting off all unnecessary thoughts. Exhausted from the strenuous task which was my morning walk, I close my eyes and await for my dreams to take my consciousness' place.

"Zachhhhhhh" I hear my name being called out by a feminine voice in pain. My eyes snap open and adrenaline rushes through my body. Someone needs my help, someone is in pain.

I jump up with urgency and run towards where the screams were originating. The screams get louder and louder as I get closer and closer until, all of a sudden, the shrill shrieks stop. The intense atmosphere is now replaced with an eerie silence. 

"Em, what's going on?" I ask in a panic. No, this isn't right!

"Zach" Emily whispers to me. She is in immense pain, I can see the agony in her eyes. This can't be happening, this isn't happening.

"EM" I yell out as she begins to fade away in unconsciousness.

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! EM, STAY WITH ME!" I call out but it's not working.

Quick think. What do I do? I gather her in my arms and carry her inside our house whilst calling an ambulance.

"Hello, what's your emergency?" the man on the other end of the line asks.

"I need an ambulance!" I scream down the phone in a frenzy. They need to hurry up. There isn't much time.

"What is the emergency?" the man asks calmly. How can he be so calm? His tranquillity is scaring me.

"My sister! I need an ambulance now!" I scream down the phone.

Snapping my eyes open, I'm in a muck sweat. This reoccurring nightmare seems to haunt me most nights. This should never have happened. But it did and now every night I relive it.

I jump in fright when there is a knock on my door. I clear my throat and tell the person on the other side of the door to enter.

"Zach...you okay?" Dad asks me softly, trying not to upset me about it. Dad knows about these nightmares, everyone in the family does. At first I didn't tell anyone about it and when they asked why I screamed in my sleep I told them it was just a nightmare and that it didn't matter. That excuse only lasts so long. When you're screaming in your sleep just about every night people get suspicious and it becomes clear that it isn't just some nightmare that didn't matter. Though recently these dreams haven't haunted me much.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Same thing so I can handle it" I tell dad and he frowns slightly.

"Well if you ever need to talk to anyone you know your mother and I are always here to talk" he informs me, like he does every time he checks up on me after nights like last night.

"I know dad. Thankyou."

Dad gives me a solemn nod and then leaves the room so I can get ready for the day.

Today Asher's family is coming over for lunch, like they do once a month. Our families are quite close, if you can't already tell.

I push the sheets off of my body and sit up in bed before I get out of bed and walk towards my drawers filled with clothes. I open the drawers and pull out some shorts and a white shirt as my phone vibrates indicating I am getting a call.