send.

morning

     The room is dark and stuffy, the air suffocatingly thick, and you're gasping uselessly for breath. No matter how hard you try, it feels like you can't get enough oxygen into your lungs, and your chest is on fire. You're not sure if your eyes are opened or closed or if you're blindfolded or maybe just blind but all you can see is murky blackness swimming through your vision.
     You're flailing and writhing, but there are some kind of restraints or something holding you down. There's a voice hissing in your ear, echoing all around you, and it takes you a second to realize that it's Jonathan. Everything he was saying earlier is wrapping itself around you, but it's warped, twisted, wrong - all of the compliments turned mocking, sarcastic. His tone is biting, harsh, sinking beneath your skin like a snake's venom.
     You're trying to scream, straining your vocal chords uselessly, but nothing's coming out. Jon's voice gets louder and louder, chanting your name now, like he's doing it just to drive you absolutely nuts, and you fight and fight and fight and tears are pouring hot and fast down your cheeks and everything is so damn loud and-
     "Sock!"
     Your eyes burst open, greeted by the half-light of the early morning, and a gasp of breath fills your lungs. You're disoriented and soaked in sweat, trying to steady your ragged breathing as you realize the ordeal was a dream. That brings your attention to Jon, sitting up next to you and looking deeply concerned. His hands are on your shoulders, like he was trying to shake you awake. Trembling, you let him wipe a thumb over the trail of tears down your cheek before flinging your arms around him, burying your face in his neck.
     He holds you close, stroking your hair, his voice soft against your ear, nothing like the gravelly hiss from your nightmare.
     "You were yelling and flailing around and I wasn't sure what to do... You wouldn't wake up when I called your name and I didn't want to shake you too much but you were crying and I..."
     He trails off as a hiccuping sob falls from your lips, silently holding you tighter in the dim, blueish light. He hushes you softly when you start to apologize, pressing his lips against your temple.
     "It's okay. You're okay. I'm here."
     But you won't be, you're tempted to say. Eventually, you'll be gone and I'll be alone again.
     The thought makes you cry harder, causing Jon to tug you into his lap and curl you closer. You let him hold you until it starts to get bright outside, afraid to let go, afraid to go back to sleep.
     He doesn't complain.
     Five days.
     Five days left, and then he's gone.

(note: wow i'm updating during school, there's a weird one. i know this is short because it was supposed to be the start of another chapter but i think id like to end it there. it also gives me the opportunity to update sooner and give you guys another one this weekend! hooray for more content! i hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. only five days left for them :-( leave suggestions for things you'd like to see them do before jon heads out again. thanks so much for reading ♥️)