'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy, when skies are grey.

You'll never know dear, how much I love you, so please don't take my sunshine away.'

Every fibre in her body sobbed with the pain. She was powerless to help him as he laid in her arms. The deep crimson puddle seeped through both layers of clothing - the cotton was saturated. Her skin was stained. The smell was pungent, metallic. It was bitterly unfair. Ugly cries slipped from her parted lips, great and echoing. It was the start of things to come.

Again, more powerfully this time.

'You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy, when skies are grey.

You'll never know dear, how much I love you.'

This time it was raspy - desperate. It was his vaguely recognisable as his voice, faltering and fading with every syllable.

'So please don't take my sunshine away.'

The quickening pulse ceased under her fingertips, and Lily gasped and sobbed.

Her body shuddered against the cold, damp pavement. The concrete was unaccommodating of her grief. In a second, it transformed. Cotton, fibre, no more hard cold ground. Except, the guttural sobs didn't vanish, in fact, they increased in pace and rose an octave.

Light flooded the room in a second. His eyes met hers, fatigue fast-faded and newly wild with panic.

He was five foot nine of antidote, he knew without speaking, holding her between the safe space that was the panel of his chest and the curve of his arm.

Minutes passed before either dared emerge. She was first, rubbing forcefully at her eyes with a tissue.

'Stop that.' His voice was gentle as he encased his hand around her wrist, holding it down.

Bizarrely, fresh tears brimmed and spilled back down her cheeks. He shook his head, also feeling the hurt rise. A thumb deftly sorted the dampness. 'I'm all ears when you're ready.'

'It's only... g-going to sound silly.' Her chest quivered as she spoke, lungs rummaging for air.

He gulped. 'No it won't. Tell me, Lily.'

'I...' She trembled, searching for words.

He wrapped his arms more tightly around her and cleared his throat, signalling her to continue. The desired effect happened, to his luck. She went on, distracted by his comfort. 'I h-have been having these, nightmares. I have this... this same one a-a few times every week. And it's increasing.'

He nodded, exhaling through pursed lips.

'Right. And what are they about? Maybe it might help to share.' He traced his thumb up and down hers, feeling her relax.

'They are about you.'

'What happens to me, don't say I pop my clogs?' He asked. She chewed her lip, not answering. His face transformed, both horrified and guilty that she'd become upset again.

'Hey, hey.' He soothed. 'You should be so lucky! You're not getting rid of me any time soon.'

'It's just... I don't know what I would do if I... I can't, not again, not after the car. What would I even... I just can't imagine myself getting by without-'

Patience fading, he begun to override her.

'Right, you listen to me. The accident was in the past, it will not happen again, alright? You know that. As for me, don't worry.'

'I-I don't worry when I'm awake! It's just at the time they feel so real - so real. Then I wonder how I'd cope in real life if I'm in pieces. It's like each time I experience it afresh.' She looked anguished, the picture of torment. His chest squeezed.

'Well, you don't need to think about that. How long have they been happening for?' He asked her.

'A while...' She picked at the corner of the duvet.

'A while?' His expression contorted. 'How long is a while?'

'A couple of weeks.' She sighed, exasperated now. 'But it doesn't matter.'

'It does matter.' He replied quietly. 'It does. Because the sheets are soaked and you woke up screaming, Lily.'

'A couple of weeks.' She sniffed, glancing down, noticing he was right. Sure enough, there was a damp patch. Sweat undoubtedly wasn't the only culprit.

'Weeks? Right...' He nodded.

'It's just the song...' She begun.

'The song?' He shook his head.

'No, nothing.' She replied. He tilted his head to one side, giving her a look that communicated his thoughts much better than words could. 'Fine, our song, it features in the dream before you die.'

'Our song...' He prompted, moments before realising this was a huge mistake.

'I can't believe you don't know.' She said.

'Course I know. It's... it's that sunshine one. I was just double checking.' He lied. The panic of the moment had wiped his memory, so much so that a title of a song seemed trivial. Still, he knew how much it meant to her and so he gave her a small encouraging smile.

'It's me, and then it's you, and then, and then...' Her voice wobbled again, but he was quick to comfort.

'Okay, I get the picture.' He felt it appropriate to stop her from working herself up more. 'Lie here,' he gestured to his chest. 'I've got you. I'll stay here till the morning.' His voice was laden with care, and so she didn't doubt this for one second.

The dampness of her skin against his was uncomfortable and chafed in places. A mixture of tears and sweat acted as glue sticking them together. Iain knew that nothing would tempt him to prise them apart. He loved content Lily the most, and he'd what it took to help her into that state. A little bit of physical discomfort felt like a small price to pay.

While she soon relaxed, he was restless with worry and doubt for hours. Thoughts of her being alone in that state made his stomach churn. When you commit to someone, you're there for the highs and lows, he thought. It was a low and it would surely pass with time.