Something smacked you lightly on the cheek, waking you with a start. Your boyfriend rolled over, mumbling unintelligible words under his breath. Sighing softly, you closed your eyes and tried to return to sleep. You turned to face him as he continued to mutter. Of what could he be dreaming?

*

You were running together, darting frantically across the crumbling pavement as the ground fell away beneath your feet. His vision was a blur of commotion. People scampered in every direction, bright orange clouds burgeoning in the dusty sky. Cars were left abandoned in the roads, buildings shaded from view by the ashy fogs.

You had been taking a vacation together, not expecting the adventure to turn into the traumatic disaster it had become.

“Why is this happening?” you asked him, dirt and tears streaking your cheeks. He shook his head. No one knew. War perhaps? The end of the world? Any hope of explanation dwindled away with each explosion of light. Together you rushed to the harbor.

“We’ll leave on a boat,” he said, grabbing your hand tightly. “We’ll sail home. It’s alright.” A vast ship was cramming with people, and together you joined the rush of those desperately fleeing. He stared sadly at those who hadn’t run quickly enough, slapping at the water with hopeless defeat in their greying eyes.

The ship sailed for what felt eternity. The sky was a leaden charcoal, the clouds hanging heavy like smoke. Even still, he clung to the image of home, safe and unharmed. As the days passed, you grew thinner, the daily terrors drawing the life from your eyes. He worried. Would you make it home?

A flicker of light wavered in the distance. Land? Everyone crowded the balconies with longing hopes of home. He shook your shoulders, waking you from the deadened trance in which you remained. The earth’s shape was familiar, and you hurried together towards the ship’s front.

Somebody passed you binoculars, a confusing hunch to his shoulders. He accepted them, curious. Was the man not happy to at least be safe? He raised the binoculars to his eyes.

“Oh.” You looked up at him, a questioning look on your face. He hesitated before passing you the binoculars. You stared a moment, swaying on your feet. Your homeland was glowing orange with the same haunting clouds you had tried to escape. He saw the terror in your eyes. Your house, your family, everything you lived for, had fallen to the ground to the same nightmarish ruins you were running from. You leaned over the balcony, tears falling to the inky ocean waters.

He reached for you, grabbing at your shirt. Too slow. You tumbled over the railing, a disturbing calm spreading across your face. You didn’t yell, you didn’t struggle. He stared as you fell.

Crumpling to the ship’s deck, he tried desperately to scream. He could feel the air leaving his lungs, the tension closing on his throat, yet no sound came from within. He tried again. Every attempt to yell was met with haunting silence. He tried again, pulling at the hem of his shirt until…

*

A terrified yell ripped you away from the dreamless slumber you had been enjoying.

“What the hell?” you mumbled, startled and afraid. Your boyfriend turned to you with an unrecognizable twist to his brow.

“Oh my god,” he said, grabbing your face in his hands. You squinted, noting the water beginning to shine in the corners of his eyes. “That was…” You brought a hand to his cheek, offering him the assurance that his nightmare had ended.

“Are you alright?” He nodded, still shaken.

“It was horrible.” You extended your arms, and he fell willingly into your embrace.

“You died…It was the worst.” You shook your head.

“I’m not dead. I promise.” He chuckled softly, resting his head on your chest.

“Sorry for waking you over my stupid nightmare.” Placing a hand on top of his head, you let forth a reassuring hum.

“You’ve woken for me.” He mumbled a quiet word of thanks, squeezing you tightly around the waist. A few moments of sleepy silence passed as he pushed the worry from his thoughts. Soft and slowed breathing descended on you both, and you returned together to a calmer world of night, sleeping peacefully until the morning light.