I tap the bottom of my foot against the carpeted floor. The tap is muffled against the fuzzy, resilient surface. Tap, tap, tap.
Rubbing the bottom of my laminate desk, I stare off into the distance. The skin on my fingers indent slightly at the edge of the plastic wood. A small slit on the side of the desk is pealing off. I flick it as my thumb runs off of the desk; my arm falling to my side. Reverbing at the tendant, my hand bounces up slightly, and swings momentarily before settling.
Blankly in front of me, a document is opened in front of my eyes. I don't even think about it, as I stare through it. Spaced out, nothing matters for hours, as it seems.
I raise my arm, and slam it onto the desk. It shutters under my arms cracking force. I yell loudly.
I pick up the phone instinctively, and dial 578-666-1421 as quickly as my fingers will move. The phone jumps to my ear, and I wait. Each ring blares into my eardrums, as I clutch the phone tightly to the side of my jawline.
"Baby pick up, oh my god. Pick up!" My voice trembles, I start shaking. Another folly ring.
My left hand moves across the side of desk quickly, I stare at the screen paralyzed. Dozens of bloodied, mutilated men and women devour a screaming woman. Her yellow dress stained in crimson blood. The look of terror in her eyes screams true pain. Unbearable and grotesque agony. Ring. I cringe.
"No, please. Du-don't le-".
"Baby? Is that you?" his soft voice answers the phone. I feel my skin crawl for just a moment. He sounds panicked.
"Oh my god, Trav, baby!" I exhale the pent-up energy, exasperated, "Where are you? Do you have Isabel with you?".
I hear a glint of release in his gasp, "Yes. She's here. We're in the van." I hear a car swerving and then a great thud.".
"Oh my god? Are you there?' I practically scream, the phone slamming against my jaw.
"After some mumbling, and what sounds like guttural growls, the phone connects to his face again, "Yes. It's really bad out here. We're two or three miles away. Meet you there… I love you." his voice is deep, and I hear the phone click off. Before I can do anything, I feel my hands spread around the box protecting the panic button. I unlatch the casing, and click the button rapidly.
"I love you too.".
Dazed, I wake up. Breathing heavily, I feel my heartbeat thump quickly. The dream spooks me, and I feel myself fall deeper into his arms. Warm and almost comfortable, I turn myself around, and face him.
He still sleeps, my body sweaty with his bodies intense warmth. Around our bodies, a thick blanket is wrapped around us tightly. I pull the blanket up, and curl my arms around him. His body shifts, so that I lay facing his body, which is no one his back.
Tenderly, I rub the hair on his arm.
In his arms, I feel safe.
Even though the circumstance. Tarp thick barriers, and on a cot. Anything could get to us. But he would never let anything get past him. I would never let anything get past him. I inhale slowly, and drift off in his warm embrace.