I woke up screaming. Ben, my roommate, was shaking me desperately.
"Lacey! It's only a dream!" He shouted. Tears were streaming down my face.
"T-the fire… Ben…" I couldn't stop crying. The dream had seemed so real.
It had been 6 months since my ex, Peter, had died. I had been at his house when the stranger broke in. Peter had been in the kitchen, cooking me dinner, when he was shot. He fell against the stove, catching his sleeve on fire. By the time I got to the kitchen from the other side of the house, the whole room was in flames.
"Peter!" I remember screaming his name over and over as the smoke clouded my vision. I heard him yell for me to get out and my legs numbly carried me outside, where I collapsed on the ground. The fire department and the police showed up, and the investigation began. The killer, not realizing the destruction he had caused, had gone upstairs to find Peter's valuables and got trapped, burning in the fire.
It didn't dawn on me until later that Peter had burned alive. He had been shot, but he wasn't dead – until the fire consumed him.
I stayed locked in my room for days, only coming out for his funeral. I sat in silence, refusing to speak during the event. I didn't cry, I didn't smile, I just stared blankly ahead. Ben sat next to me, ready to hug me if I needed it, ready to be my shoulder to cry on, but I barely even spoke to him for the first month.
As I began healing, the nightmares started happening.
"Lacey. Shhh. It's okay." Ben sat down on the edge of my bed. I said nothing as I calmed myself.
"Ben… Don't go."
"I'm right here. I'll stay as long as you need me."
"Good." I reached for him and he pulled me into his arms. Ben had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. I felt safe around him. I could feel his warm breath on my neck and I pressed my face into his chest. Emotion was rising in my chest and I felt my throat tighten. The tears were coming, and I knew by now that it was no use to try and stop them.
"Don't cry…" He almost sounded pleading.
"I just… I hate them. The fire just keeps coming closer, and no matter how loud I scream, I can't get away. It's like I'm paralyzed!" I sobbed.
"It's not real. I would never let you burn. You're safe with me." He held me tighter. "Just go to sleep."
"Only if you stay."
"I promise."
I crawled back under my blanket and Ben pulled it over so it covered him too. I fell asleep in his arms.
