Melinda's scream woke up Jim
"Melinda what's wrong?"
"Jim?" Melinda called, reaching out towards him.
"I'm here, I'm here," Jim grabbed Melinda and wrapped her in his arms, protecting her. He could feel her shaking uncontrollably, "It's okay, it's okay. You're safe." He could feel her calm down a little, but she was still shaking a lot. It scared him, she's never been like this, and he didn't know why.
"I'm sorry I woke you" Melinda apologized.
"Don't worry, I was all ready awake"
Melinda tried to laugh, but it was hard. She couldn't catch her breath. She was still scared from the dream she had of Jamie and the sight of her at the foot of her bed.
"Come on let's go get you some water"
The two of them got up and went downstairs and to the kitchen. Melinda sat down at the table and Jim went to go get her some water.
"Ugh," Melinda sighed burying her head in her hands, "I'm so sorry I woke you up"
This time, Jim didn't try to hide it, "Me too. I was dreaming I was white water rafting down a river of beer, and I was in a big cup. Whatever came in my cup, I got to keep" Jim sat down next to Melinda.
"Are your dreams always this complex?" Melinda teased.
"Pretty much," the two laughed, "What was your dream?" Jim suddenly got serious.
"Nothing important. Just your average nightmare."
"Mel, I know you," Jim said not buying her story, "You only wake up screaming when you dream about a ghost. Tell me what's going on"
"You're right. I was dreaming about a ghost" Sometimes Melinda didn't like just how much her husband knew her.
"Must have been a pretty scary ghost."
"What makes you say that?"
"I've never seen you that scared before. I didn't know what to do, and that bothers me. Seeing you like this and not being able to help. I can't stand it" Jim confessed.
"Don't worry I'm fine"
"Are you?" Melinda looked shocked but he kept going, "You've been acting so strange since the accident. First you called me Jamie. Then you wouldn't talk after, you seemed distant. Now, now you're waking up screaming and shaking. And I called Andrea when you went to bed. She said you couldn't tell her what was wrong. Why won't you tell me what's wrong?" Jim was getting mad. If she wouldn't tell her best friend what was wrong, then he was going to have a hard time figuring it out.
Melinda began crying. She knew Jim loved her and worried about her, but she knew he would never understand.
"Melinda tell me what's wrong!"
"I can't!" Melinda screamed.
"Why not?" Jim yelled back.
Melinda drew back from her husband out of fear. She never heard him yell like that. She looked down and whispered, "You would never understand."
She tried to hold back the tears, but they kept coming. It embarrassed her to cry like this in front of him.
"Oh sweetie, come here" Jim felt awful about how he treated her. He pulled Melinda into him and let her cry into his arms as long as she needed.