Images of the nightclub flashed before her eyes, the slight sting of a needle sliding into her vein now present in her state. Music blared in the background before it all became muffled as the from the drugs took over her body, the man that she’d been perched up against now laying her back on the couch while the hostess next to her went through the same trip…until the woman began choking. Echoes of her choked airway took over the music, while Dani’s body screamed at her to do something.
What are you doing? Help her! Help her? What are you doing? You’re job is to help her! Help her!
“No! No! Noooo!” Dani screamed, flying forward as her eyes flew open, quickly ending her slumber, her hands grabbing at her forearm and twisting it to look at the scars that littered the inside of her elbow, scouring for anything fresh- anything new.
Her body trembled as she tried to process what had just occurred. She hadn’t had a nightmare like that in over a year. She’d thought she’d been doing so good, or at least had it managed. But here this was and suddenly she was trapped back in that state of mind again, that place she never in a million years wanted to be again.
he’d allowed her to sleep -- they’d had a long day and an almost longer night, but when things finally came to a conclusion and there was nothing left for them to do but wait, Malcolm had thrown on a brain dead television show and settled in with some kettle cooked chips and salsa for them to share (and maybe some gummy worms, for Dani’s sake). when she’d fallen asleep, he’d simply shifted himself to the opposite end of the couch, arm stretched along the back of the couch as he watched her for a few minutes -- and maybe a few minutes more.
vulnerability was a finicky thing. to fall asleep in front of someone else was a sign of trust, and Malcolm couldn’t help but smile slightly to himself at the trust shared between the two of them, especially in this moment. he moves slowly, almost inching his way off the couch so he can grab the top blanket off his bed and drape it over her to keep her warmer -- his apartment was generally quite warm, but it had been cool lately; however, before he can drape the blanket over her to make her more comfortable, he notices tell-tale signs of a nightmare on her features.
he leans forward a bit to study her micro expressions, brows knit and lips pulled tight -- but the moment she shouts and flies upward to sit, Malcolm reels back a few steps to give her space. he knows how he reacts when coming out of a nightmare and doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of some uncontrolled violence. blue eyes drop to Dani’s arm when she studies it herself, brows creasing again before he glances up at her face. she’s scared, and Malcolm’s heart aches for her. “Dani! Dani, hey.” he shushes softly, but with volume enough in his tone to hopefully snap her out of her half-awake fright. “Dani, you’re okay. it’s okay. hey, i’m here. you’re alright.”
and he can’t stop himself -- he seats himself on the edge of the couch, body nearer hers and arms tense, ready to throw his arms around her to hug her. he resists, but only barely. he remembers how he’d clung to her before, panting and near sobbing into her shoulder when he’d woken up from a night terror. he wants to be there for her in the same way, but doesn’t know how to voice it. “can i hug you? do you want a hug? hey, shh. it’ll be okay.”
romaincrisis
prguitarman
jacobvanloon
germansingergirl
annaxmalina
