The Words I Never Said [editing]

2.2

jonas

I open my eyes to see a sleeping Danielle in my arms. Her blonde hair is covering her face, and her body is curled up beside mine. I smile. Danielle is so peaceful and angelic when she sleeps. She just has a glow to her that makes me light up inside. It's just plain cute.

I shift towards Danielle, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close. She stirs in her sleep. I try staying still, so I don't wake her. She snuggles closer into my chest, and I smile again, falling into sleep. Only to be greeted with a reoccurring nightmare.

I'm running away. My legs and arms being scrapped and scratched by tree limbs. I look behind me, their screams echoing through my mind. I look forward, trying to make my way out of the foliage, but I can't. It feels as if the trees themselves are choking me, sucking the air from my lungs. My chest burns, and I stop running. The trees and their roots wrap their legs around me, lifting me off the ground.

"I hate you! You're always making mistakes and fucking up this family!" my mother yells.

"And you aren't as well? What about that 5 o'clock shot you took that turned into 6 hours of continuous drinking!" my father yells.

"You aren't any better so shut the hell up!" she replies.

"You shut the hell up!" my father retorts.

I try blocking out their voices, trying to focus on something else, but their screams get louder and louder. The trees release, and I'm left on the ground, breathing heavily. I push myself off the ground with shaking hands. I begin running again, but this time away from the scorching hot flames.

I feel the flames touch the heel of my foot, the temperature burning me. It spreads to my leg. I scream in pain as the flames continue up my body. I fall to the groun-

I feel as if I'm being shaken. I open my eyes, sitting up from the bed. My forehead and body are covered in a thin layer of sweat, and Danielle is beside me with wide eyes and a scared expression. I wipe my hand across my eyes, wiping the tiredness from them.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, "I didn't mean to wake you."

Danielle grabs her phone and mine. She hands mine to me.

dani: Are you okay? You were screaming in your sleep. Was it a nightmare?

"Yeah. I'm fine. And yes, it was a nightmare," I say.

I hear another beep from my phone.

dani: Do you want to talk about it? You don't have to, but from experience it might help.

"Um..." I drag on, "I-I don't know where to start, o-or how to tell you this."

I laugh a stress-filled laugh.

Beep

dani: It's okay. You don't have to tell me. I'm just worried.

"No. I need to tell you this. You told me some of your secrets. I'm going to tell you-" I was interrupted by Danielle's text.

dani: Don't feel as if you have to "repay" me because I told you some of my secrets. I told you them because I felt as if you deserved an explanation after what you saw. But that was what I thought. If you feel as if it's your time (to tell someone necessarily), then that's the right time to tell.

"I know, but like you said, "I felt as if you deserved and explanation after what you saw." I feel the same way. You deserve it," I say, taking a deep breath and letting it out.

Danielle grabs my hand with both of hers, rubbing her thumbs over my knuckles. She brings my hand up to her mouth, kissing each knuckle.

Even though I met Danielle a few short weeks ago, I feel as if we have known each other for years. As cheesy as it sounds, even though she doesn't talk, her actions and texts speak to me. I feel like I'm having a conversation with a life long best friend. I don't even know how to explain it.