What If?

A Dream

"Ellie! Ellie wake up!"
I bolt up right in my bed. I look around at my surroundings momentarily forgetting where I was. I realize that I'm in my bedroom. How did I get here? Shouldn't I be dead? Then I see Nate.
"No! Get away from me!"
I scramble to the other end of my bed trying to as far away from him as possible. My breathing is heavy and I'm terrified. He tried to kill me.
"Ellie it's ok calm down. It was just a dream. I heard you screaming and I came to check up on you. It's alright I won't hurt you. I promise."
Slowly my breathing becomes normal as what he said hits me. It was a dream. I was dreaming. Nate didn't try to kill me. I'm safe.
"It was a dream?"
He sits on my bed and pulls me closer.
"That's all it was. Just a nightmare. Want to talk about it?"
I shake my head. I can't tell him I dreamt about him killing me. What will he think then?
"Ok. Well you should try and get some sleep."
I break away from his grasp and shake my head again.
"I can't sleep. Not after that. What if the dream comes back? I just can't."
"Hey. It's alright. You're safe now. Want me to sleep in here? I promise you'll be ok."
I stare at him for a moment. Then I answer.
"Ok. Only if you don't mind."
He leaves the room and comes back with a cot and some blankets. He set up his makeshift bed right next to mine and lays down.
"Now try and get some rest."
I nod my head and lay down on my pillow.
There's no way I'll go back to sleep. But I'll let him think I did so he can get some rest. I don't want him worrying about me. Nobody should.
Before long I hear his shallow breaths and now that he is asleep. I quietly slip out of bed and head downstairs to get some water. All the screaming has my throat dry.
I fill a glass and then sit down at the table. My nightmare is still haunting my thoughts. It felt so real. Does everyone really think of me like that?
I hear the front door creak open. I stand up and peer around the corner to see my dad. Obviously drunk from his swaying steps.
"Dad? Why are you home so late?"
He whips around to see me. He gives me a big toothy grin as he saunters towards me.
"Oh I was just working."
"You were working? I didn't think you got a job? And you seem drunk to me."
His smile turns into a scowl.
"I was working!" He yells. "Don't call me a liar! I'm your father!"
I take a step back. He's never yelled at me before and honestly, it scared me.
"I wasn't calling you a liar. I was just wonderi-"
"Hey dad." I turn my head to see Nate walking down the stairs.
"What are you doing here so late?"
My dads eyes are hazy and glazed over from alcohol. His eyes keep drifting from one spot to another.
"I was just gonna make a sandwich. You two need to go back up to your rooms and stay there. Say, where's your mother?"
Nate walks closer to my dad. He really shouldn't do that.
"She's out working. Actually earning us some money. Not that it's any good. You just waste it on alcohol."
My dads eyes flare with anger. Why did Nate have to say that? What is he thinking?
"I have been hard at work looking for a job!! It's not my fault nobodies hiring."
"Really?" Says Nate. "I never heard getting drunk as a term for job searching."
"Nate stop it. You're not helping."
He turns his head to look me in the eyes. He pauses for a moment, deciding whether he should continue arguing or let it go.
"Goodnight dad. Let's go Ellie."
He grabs my hand and half walks half pulls me up the stairs.
"What were you thinking talking to him like that? He's obviously drunk off his mind. You could've gotten hurt!"
"I'm sorry Ell. I'm just tired of his bull crap."
"It's ok. Just don't do it again. Now let's go to sleep."
I slip under my covers and surprisingly enough I fall asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. I fall into a dreamless sleep.

Hola! Two updates today!! Wow! How are you guys liking it? I feel like it's pretty good but that's just me. So please give honest feedback. Anything you particularly liked? Disliked? Any tips or advice? Everything is gladly appreciated. Until next time!
PEACE OUT GIRLSCOUT! ✌🏼️