How To Save A Life

Chapter 22

 Sean and I went back to his house after the car wash to spend the rest of the night watching movies. Sean has an affinity for classic Disney movies, so we make it a marathon. We start off with Peter Pan and get through The Aristocrats, Robin Hood, and half of The Lion King, before Sean falls asleep. I consider waking him up for the ending, but he always looks exhausted so I decide to let him sleep. 

I've never had anyone fall asleep while watching a movie with me, besides Mavis but that's different, so I don't really know what the protocol is. Do I finish the movie or is that weird? Should I turn the movie off and go home? If it were any other movie I might turn it off and go home, but I really like The Lion King so I stay to watch instead. 

With maybe ten minutes left of The Lion King, Sean starts to mumble in his sleep. It starts off so quiet that I can't make out any words, but not even a minute later it progresses into full on yelling. I've never really had nightmares, but Mavis has them I can tell what one look like. I call out Sean's name, but don't touch him. I once tried shaking Mavis awake and she pushed to the floor so I've taken to just repeating her name. I don't how Sean would respond if I touched him, but I wasn't about to find out.

I'm still calling Sean's name when his mother rushes into the room. I don't know her very well because I've only met her a few times so it's bit awkward to have her walk in on her son sleeping next to me to me on the couch. she doesn't seem to even notice me though as she rushes towards Sean laying on the couch. I probably wouldn't notice the stunned teenager girl siting next to me either if my son was screaming in his sleep. 

Sean's mother grabs his hands carefully and starts softly singing by his ear. She does for what seems like hours, but was probably only minutes. Eventually Sean starts to calm down and  his nightmare appears to be over. Once she's sure that her son is okay, Sean's mom turns and acknowledges me for the first time since she entered the room.

"Night terrors, they're a side effect of PTSD. They're pretty common with him, he has them at least once a week. But he's been getting better. Once a week is certainly a improvement to every night." She explains.

"Once a night? That must have been terrible. How long did that last?" I ask.

"From the day of the shooting until a few months ago. Around the time he started spending time with you actually." 

"Really? I didn't know. He never really talks about it." I say, not really sure how to respond to what she just said.

"Really. It's amazing actually, the affect you have on him. The only thing that worked before you was music, but with you in his life now he's progressed considerably."

"Oh. Well I'm really happy to have him in my life as well. I never really had friends before him, or at least I hadn't had them in a long time. It's hard to meet new people when you're homeschooled."

"Well I'm glad you met him, you've helped him so much. Thank you, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come along." She says before zoning out.

I don't know what she's thinking about, but she looks sad. I feel awkward, like I'm intruding on her private thoughts, so I stand up to leave. My movie must have caught her attention cause she turns to look up at me.

"I have to head home" I say, "it's pretty late."

"Oh yes, of course. I'm sure your parents are worried sick about you. What time is it anyway?" she questions as she glances down at her watch. "Oh it's past midnight. Yes, you better get home. I hope to see you again soon Juniper." 

"I hope so too, Goodnight." I say then head out to my car.

I think about everything that just happened on the ride home. I didn't know Sean had night terrors, much less that he had them every week. Or everyday until I showed up. I thought about that too, my affect on Sean. I didn't realize I was that important too him. He never let on that I was helping him in any way. But as long as he's getting better that's what's important.

When I arrive home I don't even bother to try and sneak in. It may be past midnight, but I doubt that parents will even notice I was gone. Given the lack effort on my parents part, I was shocked to find my mother still awake. She rarely stays up this late and if she does it's for work, but this time she appears to be waiting up for me.

"Where were you?" She asks me as soon as I walk into the room.

"I was at Sean's house. We were having a classic Disney marathon." I answer.

"Oh. Well he seems like a nice boy. Where's Mavis?"

"What do you mean where's Mavis? She's been here all night." I respond, slightly confused.

"Has she really? I thought you brought her with you so I didn't bother to check on her." she confesses.

"I invited her but she didn't want to come. I'm sure she's fine, it's not like you would have checked on her had you known she was here anyway." 

"I would have checked on her. I may not be parent of the year, but I know enough to check on my mentally unstable daughter when she's been alone in her room all night." She spits angrily. 

"I can assure you mom that you are far from parent of the year. You put Mavis on meds and didn't care about what happened to her as log as she wasn't in your hair. You put your sixteen year old daughter in charge of her, no sixteen year old should have that responsibility. But I guess I should really thank you because putting me in charge of Mavis is probably the best choice you've ever made for her and unlike you, I actually care about what happens to her." I spit back.

For a minute she just looks at me and says nothing. she doesn't have to say anything, her icy glare says it all. Then, just when I'm starting to get uncomfortable, she looks away. 

"I'm going to check on your sister. When I come back I expect an apology." She states, then walks out of the room.

I stand there fuming as she walks away. She treats me and Mavis like we ruined her life and she expects me to apologize? Over my dead body. She couldn't pay me to apologize to her. 

"Juniper get up here." My mother yells, interrupting my thoughts.

"I'm not apologizing."  I yell back.

"Forget the apology June, get up here. It's your sister." 

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Okay so this chapter was difficult to write cause I've never seen someone with PTSD have a night terror or heard anyone's experience with one. If it's inaccurate, I'm sorry. I did research, but from what I read everyone is different and there isn't one specific way they happen or one specific way to stop the. I always sing to my nephew when he has nightmares so I used that for the story. Anyway, please let me know what you think of the chapter and thanks for reading!