How can it be so dark… smoke, there's too much smoke and fire, it blocks out the light. They're here somewhere, they have to be. I got out, others could get out. I got out. I'd have come back again, to look, but I couldn't. But now… they have to be somewhere, somebody had to have survived, I survived, somebody else must have too.
Where are you?? I didn't mean to screw it up, I didn't mean to believe what I shouldn't, I didn't mean to be the only one to get out. No, not the only one… I can't be the only one.
Where are you??!!
"Right here, I'm right here, it's okay, wake up..."
There, that quiet voice, calm with knowing me, those strong hands, gentle…
"Easy, you had a dream,"
...that voice, and dark eyes that see who I am and never judge me... quiet almonds of dark-deep-black… Mai Linh...
"Angie."
The eyes were round, in the bright light of the room they were round and light golden brown and struggling to hide their pained surprise. Her voice grew even quieter as she corrected him, corrected the dream that had revealed itself with a name he hadn't spoken in years. He sat bolt upright as awareness crystallized.
The look that took shape on his face was like an open wound that she could look into, right to the bone. Whatever Angie thought she'd known or seen before was bleached meaningless by comparison, and she knew if he spoke right now she couldn't stand it.
"Ssh. It's all right. You were tired after coming back from the raid, you had a dream." Though she knew he'd never agree she tried to convince him. "It's okay, Ham." She expected no reply even as she was seized in an embrace of helpless, violent apology... but she got one anyway, predictably unspoken.
This time, he rocked her.