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Athena is having one of her nightmares, and this one is bad. She’s thrashing around, her arms flailing in the air as she gasps for breath amid her screams.
Not wanting to scare her, I turn on the lights, dimming them before I stroke her back.
“It’s a dream, babe. Wake up. It’s just a dream,” I whisper.
I keep repeating these words over and over until her thrashing stops and she opens her eyes. Demons lurk in their depths, and I wish she’d share with me why the nightmares have started again.
“Kris?” Athena’s voice is barely above a whisper.
“You’re safe… we’re home. Nothing can hurt you here.”
“I had the dream again.”
Smiling, I ask, “Did I have the cool car this time too?”
A small smile appears, and those demons disappear from her eyes. “Yes.”
“It was only a dream.”
Athena nods, and I crawl back into bed beside her, dragging her into my embrace. I leave the lights on so she can see her surroundings and know no one is here.
“I’m sorry,” whispers Athena.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She shakes her head. “You know there’s nothing you could tell me that would make me love you any less. You know that, don’t you?”
Athena nods but doesn’t say anything.
“Babe, I’m going to make an appointment for you to see Dr. Rowe. If you can’t talk to me, maybe you can tell him.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I need time, that’s all.”
With my lips against the back of her neck, I say, “We were past the nightmares. You were sleeping through the night. Something's changed, and you need to talk about it.”
Her body stiffens, and I know I’ve pushed her as far as she wants to go.
“Okay, no Dr. Rowe. Maybe you could talk to Todd?”
She nods, linking her fingers with mine. “Don’t let go.”
“Never.”
