Once Upon a Time (Editing)

Chapter Five -- Jay

I wake up and roll to the left, falling onto my hands and knees on the floor. The scream is still coming from my open mouth. The bed sheets are thrown around the room from my tossing and turning. I hear the door burst open, and Max is rushing to my side. 

"Jay?" His voice sounds distant, even though he is kneeling right next to me. "Jay, are you okay?"

I look at the carpet beneath me, shaking my head. The nightmare was still fresh in my mind. 

"Jay," Max says. "You're okay now."

I know, somewhere in my mind, that he's right. But I'm still shaking, unable to stop the terror that is still coursing it's way through my body. I feel Max's hand touch my shoulder. I crawl back toward the bed, sitting with my back against it when I get there. 

I look over as Max sits himself next to me. "Thank you," I whisper.

"I told you I would be here for you," Max says with a small smile.

I laugh, trying to hard to hold back tears. I can feel the tears building up and can feel the sobs in the back of my throat. But laugh just brings them forward. Warm tears slide down the curves of my cheeks and down onto my chin. 

Max doesn't say anything, just puts an arm around my shoulder. I hate myself for crying twice in front of him. But I know that I can trust him now. 

I don't make any noise, just let the tears come. Resting my head on his shoulder, I let him comfort me. I eventual stop crying, but Max just sits with me, not talking, just there. I can feel sleep tugging at me, and let it draw me under. 

"I trust you," I whisper, just before I fall into the merciful darkness of sleep.