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The experience Abby initially endured when sharing a bed with Ellie was challenging. Though it may sound harsh, it was an unexpected issue at the start of their relationship.
Initially, Abby thought the problem lay in the bed. She would wake up each morning with unusual back pain, but she dismissed the idea after flipping the mattress three times without seeing any improvement. She even bought a new mattress, but the pain persisted.
When the pain didn't subside, another issue arose: Abby often woke up in the middle of the night without a clear reason, finding Ellie sleeping far from her, mumbling nonsense and seemingly possessed.
Before calling an exorcist to alert them that her girlfriend was possessed by a night demon, Abby decided to talk to Ellie. She looked puzzled and denied everything, stating that she didn't talk, move, or do anything unusual while sleeping.
For a few days, Abby thought she might be the problem. However, her pride rejected that notion, so she decided to stay awake one night to observe Ellie while she slept, looking for any irregularities.
The evening started with Abby wishing her girlfriend goodnight, receiving a kiss on the cheek in return as Ellie nestled close, resting her head on Abby's chest.
Less than thirty minutes passed before Ellie fell into a deep sleep and then disrupted her peaceful slumber. Her relaxed expression turned into a furrowed brow, and she began tossing and pushing Abby away while continuously mumbling.
With some fear of being kicked by Ellie (which explained her pains), Abby decided to move away, sitting up in bed and giving her space. Ellie rested at the other end of the bed, unable to stop murmuring in her sleep.
Abs remained silent, focused on Ellie’s facial expressions, which showed neither dreamy relaxation nor peace but rather fear and distress. Abby quickly realized her girlfriend was having a nightmare and didn’t hesitate to interrupt.
"Babe," Abby whispered softly, carefully approaching Ellie and gently shaking her shoulder. "You're having a nightmare, Els. Wake up..."
Just a few gentle movements on her shoulder were enough for Ellie to wake up, her green eyes wide with fear. She sat up quickly, placing her hand over her chest as if scared her heart might escape.
"Fuck." That was the only thing that came from Ellie's lips as she tried to regulate her breathing while Abby gently stroked her back up and down. "Did I wake you?"
"No, no," Abby replied immediately, slowly shaking her head to assure Ellie that everything was fine. "Do you feel better? It must have been a terrible nightmare."
"No, not really. I've had the same nightmares since I was a child," Ellie murmured, as if being so disturbed during sleep was her normal reality instead of a peaceful dream.
"Would you like to talk about it? Your nightmares..." Abby proposed, seeking a possible solution to ease Ellie's mind. "Maybe that would help you rest better."
"No fucking way," Ellie responded quickly, firmly shaking her head and leaving no room for further suggestions. "I know they're not real, but I can't escape them."
"What can I do to help you? You don't want to discuss this with me, so..." Abby said, trying to assist her girlfriend in solving her sleep problems, even if Ellie didn't want to share her nightmares with her.
"I don't know, wake me up?" Ellie offered that solution with a frown, unsure of how to handle her nightmares. "Hold me close so I don't move around? Can you do that with your strong arms?"
Abby let out a small laugh at Ellie's comment, who smiled lightly at hearing her girlfriend's chuckle.
"Maybe if I hold you, you'll feel safer and the nightmares will seem less real," Abby replied, considering Ellie's suggestion.
"Just hold me if you see me getting worked up, and if it's too much, wake me up," Ellie agreed, moving a bit closer to Abby in bed.
"Your solution is just an excuse to sleep curled up next to me, Williams," Abby quipped playfully, rolling her eyes and taking advantage of the new closeness to kiss Ellie's cheek. "You really are obsessed with me, aren't you?"
"Oh no, you've discovered my terrible secret," Ellie responded, following Abby's teasing with an exaggerated sigh. "I've been faking nightmares to be the clingiest girlfriend. Now you can't escape."
"What a shame you have to resort to this for some affection," Abby joked without hesitation. "Aren't you embarrassed to take advantage of my kindness?"
Suddenly, the sweet cheek kisses Abby gave Ellie became less innocent as she trailed down to her jaw and neck.
"You can't deny my plan worked," Ellie said, shrugging and giggling at Abby's comment and the tingling sensations from the neck kisses.
It could be said with certainty that, after weeks of discomfort, sharing a bed with Ellie finally became a dream for Abby. In the end, before going to sleep, after wishing each other goodnight and saying "I love you," Ellie would snuggle into Abby's chest, while Abs wrapped her arm around her, pulling her closer.
They simply lay down each night under the dinosaur-themed sheets of the bed, embracing each other, regardless of the weather, seeking comfort in each other's arms and sleeping soundly with dreams instead of nightmares.
And perhaps one night, Abby will wake her, and in the darkness, Ellie might begin to whisper her nightmares without any fear of sharing those terrible dreams about her past that continue to haunt her. By becoming vulnerable in front of Abby, who devotedly seeks nothing more than to comfort and and help ease her nightmares.