Chapter 21 - THE FIRST NIGHTMARE IN MONTHS
Noah woke screaming one night.
“Mommy!”
I ran into his room.
He was sitting upright, sweating.
Ryan came in behind me.
“No doors,” Noah cried.
I climbed onto the bed.
“You're safe.”
He looked toward the hallway.
“Grandma?”
“No.”
Ryan sat beside him.
“She isn't here.”
Noah looked at his father.
“Promise?”
Ryan took his hand.
“I promise.”
Noah slowly relaxed.
Then he asked:
“Can I sleep with you?”
“Of course.”
We carried him into our room.
He slept between us.
I stayed awake for a long time.
Ryan was awake too.
“I hate that she still gets inside his dreams,” he whispered.
“She didn't choose the dream.”
“No.”
“But she doesn't get to choose what happens after he wakes up.”
Ryan looked at me.
“What do you mean?”
“We choose.”
He nodded.
The next morning, we made pancakes.
Noah covered his with strawberries.
Ryan accidentally burned one.
Noah laughed so hard he nearly fell from his chair.
The nightmare did not disappear.
But it didn't control the morning.
May you like
That was progress.
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