Chapter Text
As the shadows crept back into my dreams, I woke up in a cold sweat. I grabbed my blankets and hid my face as I hyperventilated and tried my hardest to count my breaths. My cat, Gizmo, felt my distress and curled up beside me. I gently stroked his soft ginger fur and managed to calm down. I leaned back against my head board and looked to my right, staring at the mask that I have worn every single day since the tragedy. "What am I going to do Gizmo?" I whispered. He meowed in response, I always felt like he could understand me even if he was just a cat. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought about my mom, I really missed her. The only time I was able to see her was in my dreams, and they were never good. I wish I didn't have to relive the day she died every time I closed my eyes. Therapy was no help, I stopped going and resorted to smoking with Larry, not the best idea I know but it was the only thing that worked.
I grabbed my phone off my nightstand and flipped it open. No new messages. I created a new message to my friend Ash, she was always there for me when I needed her. I doubted she was awake at this time though.
"Had another nightmare, can't sleep"
I always felt like a child telling her about my "nightmares", I try to be as nonchalant as I can about it but I never can be when it comes to Ash, she can read me like a book. I've always admired her, romantically or not I'm not sure. After a while she didn't answer, so I decided to get water from the kitchen.
When I turned on the light I screamed because my dad was standing in the middle of the kitchen sipping coffee. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I said, clutching my chest. "Drinking coffee, I just got back from work. What are you doing awake Sal?" I shifted my weight nervously and looked at my feet. "Another nightmare?" He asked, tilting his head. I hesitated before answering, I hated talking about this stuff with my dad. "...Yeah" "Do you want to talk about it?" He said the same thing every time, I always had the same answer. He nodded his head solemnly and placed his cup in the sink. "You really shouldn't drink coffee before bed" I said, laughing while grabbing a glass. He laughed with me. I filled my glass with some water and sat down on the couch, needing a minute before I went back to my room.
"Dad?" "Yeah?" "Can we do something this weekend?" He seemed surprised by the question. "What did you have in mind?" I didn't have anything in mind to be honest, I just missed him. So I made up something. "Maybe we can...Go to the comic book store like we used to?" I mumbled, suddenly feeling embarrassed. He walked over and sat beside me. "I didn't realise you were still into comics." I shrugged. "Sure," He grinned. "I'll try get a day off bud, I promise" He ruffled my hair and I suddenly felt 10 again, it made me feel a lot better. "Okay, goodnight dad" I said, and I finished drinking my water. "Goodnight bud, I'll see you tomorrow"
I went back to my room with a clearer head, excited for the plans I had made with my dad. I settled back into bed and slept soundly, no nightmares this time.