Your Loyal Servant

(23) This is a Joke, Right?

It was a fitful sleep, invaded by nightmares of ever-enclosing boxes that stole the breath from my lungs and crushed my bones together. I'd awake with my heart hammering and hair clinging to my sweaty forehead.

After my third nightmare of the night, I pushed my hair away from my face and sighed, staring at the ceiling until my heart rate slowed to something regular. I rubbed my face and turned onto my side, glancing at the clock.

It was only three in the morning. Then again, I only had three more hours until my alarm went off. I could either force myself to stay awake, or I could force myself to go back to sleep and possibly suffer through another nightmare. I settled for closing my eyes and letting whatever happened, happen.

The last time I had had such horrendous nightmares that took up my entire night was when I was locked in the car, forgotten by my absentminded father who had been on the phone with his editor when he'd left me locked inside. I was only ten at the time, and Dad had calmed me down, but the night offered nothing but nightmares.

Tommy was curled up beside me, aware of my fragile state. Even though he was bothersome at times, he still cared for me when I was scared. He kept vigil and laid willingly by my side. When he noticed I was awake, he stretched, yawning, and hopped off my bed, sneaking out the door, probably to go outside for a moment.

I groaned to myself and rolled onto my other side, facing the wall. I forced my eyes to shut again and I snuggled deeper into my blankets.

Something slammed into my bedroom window, jolting me up, tossing aside my blankets. I stared wide-eyed at my window, not daring to look directly out it for fear of finding a face I didn't recognize. It banged again, making me jump. But I didn't budge from my position.

Something hit it again, a little harder this time, and I had to wonder if someone was throwing pebbles at my window.

What a romantic notion.

Curious, I slid along the wall and glanced out the window. I didn't see anything, so I let my eyes fall to the ground below, and I saw a familiar shadow on the grass, tossing a pebble at my window.

I jumped back when it made contact. I glared at him but realized he couldn't see me. With a sigh, I opened my window and stuck my head out, calling in hushed tones so I didn't wake the household, "What are you doing?"

He whispered back loudly, "Getting your attention."

Rolling my eyes, I said, "What is your problem? It's three in the morning. Are you insane?"

"No," he replied. "But I am sorry."

I looked at him incredulously. "So you woke me up at three in the freaking morning to apologize? That's not exactly a great way to say you're sorry."

"I couldn't sleep," he told me.

"Not my problem," I muttered as I moved to bring my head back inside my room. It was chilly outside anyway.

"Rosalind!" he called, his voice almost desperate, so I wouldn't disappear. When he knew I wasn't moving, he released a sigh. "I'm so sorry. I know I betrayed you and you won't forgive me, but I want to make it up to you. Will you let me do at least that much?"

As I gazed down at him, the moonlight playing off his golden strands of hair and his eyes the color of the moon, I could almost feel how sorry he was. I noticed he was barefoot in the grass, which was probably freezing cold. And, hey, he had thrown pebbles at my window.