A Glimpse

It has come to a point now, having witnesses the same nightmare every night, I almost know I'm dreaming when Mark gets out of the car and walks into the coffee shop.

However, something feels different about this time. Everything seems vaguely familiar but I'm still waiting for something out of pattern to happen. As if on que, the surroundings change in an instance. It's no more the same dark winter night, behind that coffee shop. It's the party I went to last night.

I shakily get out of the car, shocked to find myself in the huge crowded lawn. People are squashed together everywhere, gulping their red cups of wine, dancing and mostly not knowing what they are doing. I start searching for the people I know, anyone I know, when someone roughly pulls on my hand from behind. I turn around to find Leo staring at me. A deadly smile is plastered on his face.

The horror and adrenaline from last night filters through my dream making me cringe away from him. I am terrified of him standing so close to me but I have no idea why. His body is transferring tangible chills to mine. When he comes forward with his hands spread out generously to touch me, I start shaking.

The reason of my anxiety overwhelms me as I suddenly recall his next move. Knowing what to expect makes it a whole lot worse. Squeezing my eyes shut, I prepare for what's coming.

And the next moment it's all gone!

The horror, the shaking, the drunk college kids dancing in the background, everything blacks out. I look around the thick darkness, vehemently searching for something or maybe someone; so precious yet so oddly unknown.

A fierce wave of peace flashes down my body when I finally find what I was looking for. His face is so distinct, it looks like he is glowing in the deep darkness around me. His hazel-gray eyes are pained and worried. His jaws are clenched, brows drawn in a deep line of furrow. And yet he looks utterly beautiful. Like an angel in my dark hell.

"Eileen, are you okay?" He asks, parting his almost full lips, concern evident in his voice. He's standing so close I can feel the warmth of his presence and that intoxicating smell. He lifts his hand and softly caresses his long finger across my cheek bones, a gesture thats so familiar to me yet the beautiful shiver from his touch never dims. It's almost painful how the very next moment my mind abruptly wakes me up. For the first time in years I wanted to keep dreaming. The thought makes me want to scoff but it gets stuck midways when I fully open my eyes, just to see that beautiful pair of eyes staring down at me. I blink at him in confusion for a while before the events of last night slowly dawns on me. He patiently waits while I go through the short flashback of embarrassment and horror in my head. I am lying on a comfortable large bed in an unfamiliar room. The unknown room doesn't bother me because Aeson is half sitting on the bed right next to me. The inevitable thoughts of reality makes my head spinny, so I decide to pack it aside for later.

"You were having a nightmare," he whispers in a husky voice, moving a strand of hair away from my face. The warmth of his breath soothes my cheek. "I didn't realise last night took such a deep toll on you. I am so sorry baby," he mutters. His face changes from grieved to angry as he recalls last night. The way Leo was trying to force himself on me, how Aeson appeared at just the right time to save my ass. I don't remember much after that. It's all blank. I don't think I want to remember either. It would have been a blessing to have forgotten it all. But a lot of it doesn't make sense. What was Aeson even doing at the party? He wasn't supposed to be anywhere near me. And why come to the rescue anyway? A more logical voice in my head tells me with a snort that he would have done the same for anyone else. Because he is a good man! I take a deep breath. "Don't be sorry! You sort of saved me," I tell him despite the edgy realisations. My hands land on his cheeks before I can stop myself.

"Barely," he scoffs, "You were screaming in your sleep Eileen. I should have killed that bastard." His face is agonized now. It almost makes me tell him that it's not because of this particular night; that the nightmares are a part of my every night! But I quickly deam the rush, remembering the questions it will bring attached with itself. Questions that I'm never really ready to answer. "Thank you!" I mumble instead. His eyes changes with the short words. It's no longer angry or sad. It's something else I can't fathom.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you. I shouldn't have left in the first place." He gently leans forward and kisses my hair. The contact of his surprisingly soft yet somehow hard lips on my skin release an icy fire through my body. I didn't know I was missing him this much until my heart starts to beat like a lunatic. He chuckles at my pathetic reaction and I sigh.

"No more running El. I can't stay away from you," he says while slightly lifting me from the bed to place my head on his chest. The feeling of immediate safety and peace engulfs me. I never felt anywhere close to this for so long that I believed it was impossible. I close my eyes and scoot closer to him. His hands tighten around me. I know it's not going to be the same in the day light tomorrow. I will be forced to face the horrific reality. But most importantly tomorrow, I will have to let him go. Again! So for as long as this night lasts I decide to feel his presence and let the love devour the best of me.