Chapter: The Night That Wouldn't Let Her Sleep
(Keif's POV)
The room was dark.
Only the soft glow of the bedside lamp lit the corner of my room.
Jay was still curled against me on the bed, sleeping.
Her breathing had finally become steady after hours of crying.
One of my arms was around her waist while the other rested behind my head.
I hadn't moved.
Didn't want to wake her.
Didn't want to risk her feeling alone again.
Outside the window the night was quiet.
Too quiet.
For a moment I actually thought she was finally sleeping peacefully.
Then suddenly—
"—No…"
Her fingers tightened on my shirt.
I frowned.
Her breathing changed.
Fast.
Uneven.
"Jay?"
She moved slightly, her eyebrows tightening like she was seeing something terrible.
"No… stop…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
A nightmare.
I gently shook her shoulder.
"Jay, wake up."
But she didn't.
Her face twisted in fear.
And then she suddenly gasped.
"STOP!"
Her entire body jerked upright.
Her eyes flew open.
She was breathing like she had just run miles.
For a second she looked completely lost.
Confused.
Terrified.
Her eyes darted around the room rapidly.
"Jay."
I grabbed her shoulders.
"It's okay. You're here."
But she was shaking.
Her hands were trembling so badly I could feel it even through my shirt.
She looked at me like she didn't recognize where she was.
Then suddenly—
She grabbed my hoodie tightly.
Her fingers gripping the fabric.
"Keif…"
Her voice broke.
And tears filled her eyes instantly.
"I saw him…"
My chest tightened.
"Who?"
Her breathing became shaky again.
"That man…"
Her words came out uneven.
"My mom's husband…"
The room suddenly felt colder.
Jay stared at nothing as if the memory was playing right in front of her.
"I remember the house…"
Her voice trembled.
"The shouting…"
Her fingers slowly moved to her back subconsciously.
"The night he got angry…"
Her eyes filled with tears again.
"I remember hiding…"
I pulled her into my arms immediately.
"You don't have to think about it."
But she shook her head weakly against my chest.
"I heard my mom crying…"
Her voice cracked again.
"And he kept shouting…"
Her breathing became uneven again.
"I tried to stop him…"
Her hands clenched into fists.
"But he pushed me away…"
Tears slid down her cheeks.
"I remember falling…"
She stopped speaking.
Her entire body trembling again.
I tightened my arms around her.
"Jay."
She buried her face into my chest.
Her voice muffled.
"I hate remembering it…"
My hand gently moved through her hair.
"You're safe now."
She slowly looked up at me.
Her eyes red from crying.
"What if it happens again?"
"It won't."
"But what if—"
"It won't."
My voice was firm this time.
She stared at me for a moment.
Like she was trying to believe it.
Then suddenly she moved closer.
Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck.
And she hugged me like she never wanted to let go.
"Don't leave me…"
Her voice was small.
Almost fragile.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She pulled back slightly.
Looking straight into my eyes.
"Promise?"
"I promise."
For a moment she just stared at me.
Then slowly—
She leaned forward.
And kissed me.
Softly.
Not like the chaotic kisses we usually had.
This one was different.
It was quiet.
Careful.
Like she just needed reassurance.
I kissed her back gently.
When she finally pulled away, she rested her forehead against mine.
Her breathing had calmed again.
"Stay with me…"
"I already am."
She slowly curled back into my arms.
Her head resting on my chest again.
This time her grip on my shirt was tighter.
Like she was making sure I couldn't disappear.
Minutes passed.
Then her breathing slowly became steady again.
Jay fell asleep once more.
But this time…
Without tears.
I stayed awake.
Watching her.
Making sure no nightmares came back for her tonight.