SOFT SPOT// h.s

1.7 ~ Whispered secrets*

It was some time around three or four a.m when I found myself lying wide awake, staring at the ceiling thinking of what seemed like everything. My brain just refused to shut up.

I gave up trying to get a good nights sleep as I had been drifting in and out of consciousness for hours, worrying about every possible thing that could go wrong during the trip home and what would happen between Harry and I. Would we stay in touch? How would Noah react? Would it threaten our relationship or our marriage?

I rolled over to my other side and nuzzled into the pillow. Ellie's faint snores and Harry's deep breathing were the only sounds to be heard.

I kicked my socks off under the duvet and wiggled my toes, letting my warm feet get some air. But I froze when I heard the sound of low groans gradually getting slightly louder. I instinctively looked over at Ellie, who was still fast asleep on her sofa bed.

I sat up and looked around the room with confusion, my squinting eyes following the sound that came from Harry who was squirming uncomfortably on the cold, hard ground.

Oh shit.

Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and he began thrashing around and panting madly. I flicked on the dim bedside lamp and rummaged through the memories of his last nightmare trying to recall what to do. I dragged myself out of the bed and knelt beside him, shaking his arm vigorously. 

"Shit Harry, wake up," I mumbled as I pulled his eyelids open, desperately trying to tear him away from this nightmare as I was afraid that Ellie would waken.

I gave up on trying to wake him gently as I dumped the withering flowers out of their vase and ran to the bathroom. I hastily wrenched the cold tap on and filled it with water as Harry started yelling in his sleep, the pain in his voice making my heart lurch.

"Don't hurt her! Please! No!" He cried, his grief tugging at my heart strings.

I stood above him as he writhed in agony, seeing pictures that no one else could. I didn't hesitate before shutting my eyes and pouring the icy cold water over his face.

He jolted up and out of his sleep almost immediately, his face contorted with shock and disbelief. He stared at me wordlessly, and I stared back.

I didn't so much as blink as we looked each other out, Harry's expression unreadable. I tore my eyes away eventually and placed the empty vase on the coffee table.

"You were having another nightmare," I said, feeling a little awkward.

He nodded and looked away, pulling his wet T-shirt over his head and throwing it into the corner of the room. "Yeah, I guess so," he replied.

"Are you ok?" I asked him, unsurely as he lay back down on the floor, trying to get comfortable again.

"Of course I am. I'm fine," he told me. His eyes were darkened and narrowed with tiredness. But there was something about the way he looked in that moment that made him look younger and vulnerable.

"You can talk to me about it you know," I reminded him, truly meaning it.

I didn't want Harry to feel alone or upset, and since we were on this trip together anyway, we might as well act like friends. We could both use one.