It's been quite long since I updated, long enough for our last exams for the school year/finals to come by while my last update occurred during one of our exam weeks.

Anyway, we have our research defense today and I am totally unprepared. So here's an update?

III.

It has been days since she last slept peacefully.

Because every time she closes her eyes, her monsters come out to play.

((No, please go away.))

And gone were the nights when the warmth of the extra weight by her side lulled her to sleep.

((How'd it become this way?))

Instead she sits, staring out into the dark expanse that lies beyond her window. She drowns out the noise, lets her mind wander, and stares.

The shroud of mist pouring out into the streets makes her shiver.

((This fear is so irrational.))

And when daylight comes, she finds herself dozing off. Her mind far away, her eyes clouded and glazed.

And when confronted, she'll smile and say she was up all night, writing.

But the eyes burning into her back know that she lied.

((Let me lie about this for a while longer.))

She'd excuse herself, make her way home early.

((The only reason I still go is so they won't get suspicious, anyway.))

And one particular day, as rain drowns the shit away, she finds herself settled comfortably, close to dozing off on her couch.

As her eyes slowly close, she feels herself stiffen. Somehow, she could hear her monsters mocking her in her head.

((I'm really losing my mind.))

Her eyes close, but her mind is awake. Her body is stiff, her heartbeat is fast.

She is wary; her mind's driven by fear.

She's tired, so so tired.

No matter how much she tries, she can't seem to get rid of her fears, anyway.

((It's suffocating, it's like I'm drowning.))

Her mind lay in restless agony, torn between the decision of going to sleep or staying awake.

But she knew deciding was futile, no matter where she is, whether she's awake or not, the monsters come anyway.

((Why won't you leave me alone?))

She stiffens some more. She feels a presence in her room.

So quiet, so careful.

She relaxes a bit, a smile threatens to show.

((He's here again.))

There's a shift on the couch, and one end feels heavier. She almost flinches when she feels a hand on her head, but then relaxes as the hand moves to smooth down her hair.

And just like that, all the tension goes down the drain.

((You put me at ease.))

His presence seems to bring her comfort.

((How ironic.))

Next thing she knows, she's on the verge of drifting off.

((This is when the monsters start to appear.))

But the monsters stopped coming.

She smiles inwardly.

((His warmth is comforting.))

She hasn't slept so peacefully in such a long time.

((Thank you.))

She didn't know how long she had slumbered, but she had felt so refreshed.

((It's a nice break from all the nightmares.))

She can still feel his presence, his hand in her hair.

His gentle motions give off waves of ease.

She wonders why.

((It's probably because it's you.))

She slightly shifts, already feeling the soreness of her neck.

She feels his form change and he stops.

His hand moves away.

((Don't stop.))

His hands find their way onto her soft locks once more and just stay there, long enough to give her a gentle pat.

And all of a sudden, she feels his warm presence disappear from the vicinity.

((Why won't you stay?))


A/N:

I'll probably have more free time to write this week onward since the only thing left to do at school is the research defense. (Thank god I was a pilot tester for some shit others have to take this week). But then again, that still isn't assured since I might get busy revising our research paper soon.

Oh well.