Love Falls Forever

Accepted.

I jumped awake to find myself on the floor, Skylar screamed again making me jump to my feet. 

"Skylar!" I yelled as I slid onto the bed beside her. Her small fragile body was soaked in sweat, the blanket was thrown off of her but tangled in her legs. She thrashed around like someone was trying to hurt her... "Skylar!" I said again as I gripped her waist tightly preventing her from moving. Her fear filled eyes shot open wide, tears already threatening to spill over. 

"baby, it's okay." I softly spoke, her eyes quickly moved to me.

"Ross!" she gaped and wrapped her arms around my neck. I moved closer to her and grasped her tiny waist between my arms.

"it's alright baby girl. It was just a dream." I try calming her as she sobbed into my chest. I pulled away from her and tilted her chin up to look at me. I gently rubbed my thumb under both her eyes, wiping the tears away. "it's okay. I got you." I tried smiling. I moved away from her for a moment as I fixed the blanket and draped it over her legs. 

She looked into my eyes and let out a small sigh. She was terrified, upset, and I believe I know why... 

I brought my hand slowly up to her forehead and removed the wet hair from her shining skin. I lightly brushed my hand down, past her temple and rested it on her cheek. 

"everything's okay. I promise baby, I promise." I whispered, she slightly nodded and bit the inside of her lip. "Did I... Did she?" I know she knows what I mean, I can't bring myself to say the rest but I had to ask. She nodded as more tears gathered in her eyes. 

"but it was worse." her voice was quiet, strained, and the thing that killed me the most, I could hear the pain in her voice, I could see it in her eyes. 

"it's okay baby. look don't worry about it okay, it's not going to happen. Everythings going to be alright." I managed to say without stuttering. She nodded again and leaned against me. Her skin was sticky against mine but neither one of us cared. 

"just go back to sleep, I'm right here okay? I'm not going anywhere." I tell her. "just lay on me." I say before she can move away. I want her skin touching mine, the goose bumps her touch leaves on my skin makes me want to never break the contact. I know she feels it too, because she has the same goose bumps. 

I watch as she slides down and rests her head lightly against my arm, I try to smile again but fail. "here." I say as I lay down, resting my head on the pillow. "better?" She nods and rests her head onto my chest. Her cheek is hot, not just the sweaty hot... but the sickening hot. I decide to just let her rest instead of making her let me take her temperature.

About ten minutes past and her body is ice cold... I'm not sure how that can possibly happen but I don't dwell on it in this moment of time. I just simply pull the blanket up and move closer to her. I gently stroke her hair which after an hour or two eventually leads me to a dreamless sleep.

~

When I awoke the next morning Skylar was still cuddled against me. Her head laid on my stomach with her arm wrapped around my waist. I wanted to get up but didn't want to wake her, she looked so peaceful right now. And I knew once she's awake she'll be thinking about that dream. 

I wish I could stop all of this, stop her nightmares, stop the reason for her having them... Ev... 

I wish I could bring her father back, change everything that happened to her. 

I looked down and watch her stir before her eyes fluttered open. As soon as she saw my face pain flashed in those hazel eyes. Lifted my hand and gently touched her cheek, She tried smiling to reassure me shes okay but I know better.