A Love Like Ours || m.f.

22

It's usually the same nightmare every night, but tonight was different. I couldn't tell you the reason why. I woke up with Mark holding me in his arms outside on the patio. His eyes were closed and he was swaying me back and forth like a child.

"Mark?" I whimpered into his chest.

His eyes opened slowly and met with mine. The chilly night breeze blew around my arms and teased my hair.

"You're awake." he mumbled, his voice a breath of relief.

He leaned forward and pressed his lips firmly against my forehead and held them there.

"Okay. Don't do that ever again. Deal?" he breathed after he finally fell away.

"Do what?"

His head fell, and he carried me back inside. With the slight lighting from the lamp in the living room I could see scarlet lines all down Mark's neck.

"Let me show you. Can you walk?"

I nodded as he carefully set me down on the floor.

"Back here."

Mark led me back to the recording room where his computer screen showed his face while playing. He must've been editing.

I stood there silently as he rewinded the clip and played it. I couldn't see the game play, which was odd, since that was the first thing we usually edited in. Instead it was just his face. He was chatting with the camera and laughing, most likely commenting on something that happened in the game. He had headphones on, but one of them was off his ear. I slowly walked over and sat next to Mark while continuing to watch. Another minute passed with nothing, I was confused. What was I supposed to be watching for? My question was immediately answered when a blood-curdling scream broke through the audio. In the video, Mark's eyes dashed towards the camera for a split second before he hastily threw his head phones at the monitor, sprinting from his chair. He moved so quickly his chair didn't have a chance to rebound from the movement and it toppled to the ground. The camera continued to roll, getting video of absolutely nothing but pure silence. Mark skipped ahead through ten minutes of blank footage to where he came back in to turn the camera off. I was propped in his arms as he did so, my feet crossed and my head lazily drooping to the side. Before he could turn off the camera I saw a close up on his neck, which was worse than it was now and slightly bloody. He put the monitor to sleep and turned to face me.

"You scared me to death. When I got in the room, and saw you- it was like usual. Your nails were dug into the duvet so far that if I hadn't of come sooner you would've ripped it to shreds. And when I went to pick you up, you grabbed onto me so frantically that you clawed my neck. You were scared for life, yet you still wouldn't open your damn eyes for the next thirty minutes."

My hands were trembling.

"What made tonight different than all the others?"

"It wasn't the same one. It wasn't the same nightmare."

"I mean I love you, I really do, but you've gotta find a way to control this. You're going to wake the neighbors."

"I'm sorry."

"It's ok. I know what happened was bad, but I will never let him near you again."

Something in his eyes told me he was hiding something else. I couldn't place my finger on it, so I didn't ask.

"I'm so beat, I'm going to bed." he admitted

"I'm just gonna finish this up real quick, and I'll join you." I motioned to the computer and forced a smile.

"Are you sure you feel up for it?"

I nodded and gave him a quick kiss.
"Goodnight."

"Yeah. You never realize how much that means until it's the complete opposite."

———

"He emailed me back! Mark! Mark! Come here!" I shouted down the hallway to the bedroom where Mark was getting dressed.

He came around the corner with one pant leg on his leg and the other resting at his foot. He skipped towards me quickly while trying to pull his pants up. I snickered at his ridiculous actions before I patted the spot on the couch next to me.

Dear Ms. (L/n)

I have open house Monday through Thursday if you would like to stop by and check it out. I have just recently gotten many offers on this house, so the sooner the better. Please contact me with the time you would wish to meet up.

Rodney Banks
Homeowner

"We have to go today!" I squealed "Like right now!"

"Hold on. He needs a time." Mark stated, but even I could see the small smile on his face.

I frantically ran my fingers over the keys, replying as quick as I could to his email.

"You think three o'clock is good?" I asked

"Yeah. That gives us both enough time I think."

I nodded my head and sent the email.

"I'm gonna go get ready!" I jumped up from my spot and placed the laptop next to Mark on the couch.

As I dashed down the hallway and into the bathroom I heard Mark laugh.

I threw on some jeans and a plain t-shirt with a wool cardigan. I finished it off with a pair of ankle boots and some earrings. Mark came into the room and finished getting dressed as well. I tamed my wild bed head and put on a bit of makeup. I was heading into the cabinet below the sink to grab some perfume when Mark walked in. Now the bathroom wasn't big. At all. And the mirror was more of a one person kind of deal.

"I have to brush my teeth." he whined

"Yeah you do." I waved my hand in front of my face and giggled.

"Get out of here." he teased, pushing me into the bedroom.

I peered at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It's only noon. I frowned and walked back to the recording room to edit some of the videos for tomorrow.

—

The man replied back rather quickly after I had sent my email saying he wouldn't mind meeting at three. I walked up to the front door with my keys grasped tightly in my hand.

"Mark! I don't want to be late!"

I listened in to see if he had heard me, and I was surprised to hear the sound of him rushing through his outro. He was recording?

"I got to go, important business. Thank you all for watching, and I will see you in the next one. Bu-Bye!"- "I'm coming!!"