The Nightmare

(From Leandro's Perspective)

I was reading a book while El slept beside me. Suddenly, she started to cry and scream in her sleep. It was like she was in pain. 

"El... Baby! What's wrong?" I asked, quickly holding her. 

"... Huh... Don't... don't hit me..."

She was sweating profusely and tears were falling from her eyes. Her hands were shaking. I tried to wake her up by shaking her, but she did not open her eyes. 

"Hey, it's alright. You are with me. You are safe," I said, trying to comfort her. "It's okay. No one is going to hit you again. You are safe, baby."

She did not calm down much. I had to slap her cheeks lightly to wake her up. She rubbed her eyes and looked at me as if she had no idea where she was or what was going on. 

"You slapped me..."

"You were having a nightmare," I said. 

"I was..."