"Morning, love."
I squinted at the light whilst slowly moving further back to consciousness with every kiss Aarons planted along my neck. Suddenly, the instinct of being constantly cautious blew away everything sane in my mind and I flinched noticeably. A dark reality gripped my mind and the light shining in through the window, the softness of the covers, the highlights in his hair, the welcoming smell of coffee that filled the room was all gone. All I saw was darkness, death and destruction. I couldn't see what was reality, what was dreams and where this hell I had abruptly been transported to was. Aaron didn't stop, though, he didn't even react to my hands pushing him away in reflex, he just held me tighter. Just a moment later I could see it all again, I could drink in my surroundings and feel my muscles relax.
I sighed a deep breath and groaned. I was so tired of not being normal. I didn't think those memories and reflexes was ever going away. But I would fight against them for as long as I lived. I tried to ask for forgiveness with my eyes but Aaron didn't let me. His kisses were making their way towards my cheek. I smiled a little but then felt the sleepiness flourish in my brain.
"Morning," I mumbled but shut my eyes again and buried my head in one of the superfluously fluffy pillows.
"No, Juliette, you actually have to wake up," Aaron mused as he tugged on the covers.
"What time is it?"
"It's eight-hundred," he said carefully.
I groaned and pulled the sheets over my head.
"No way. I'm going back to sleep."
"Juliette. It's kind of a big day today, remember?" He watched me closely, vary of the reaction.
"What?" I couldn't remember what he was talking about. He stroked my hair and pulled me a little bit closer.
"We're going back to asylum today, love."
I sat lifelessly on the black-leathered sofa in Aaron's office while he was in the shower. I was too tired and nervous to get ready. Instead, I waited until he finished showering and could pick out some clothes for me. Also, he had a better fashion sense than I would ever require. I sometimes thought that I was incredibly spoiled. Aaron's the kindest man, he worried and cared so much about me, I wondered if I'd ever be able to make it up to him.
As I listened to the sound of water splashing down on the tiles, I remembered the feeling I had when I woke up that morning, I felt so terrified, so much like the old me. But truthfully I was doing much better. I was living the dream, to be honest. I spent my days with the love of my life and my best friend as we tried to make the world a better place. I was happy. But still…
I had been waking up at night after horrifying nightmares. Or, well, Aaron woke me up after being terrified of my screams. I couldn't help it. However content or joyous I might have been, I still dwelled in the ghosts of the past. I couldn't forget hurting innocent people, I couldn't get over the devastation I had caused. I also could not forget one specific year of my life. The year I spent in isolation. In other words, the year I spent at the asylum.