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Day 13

Nightmares

They've been married for ten years. They were young—twenty years old—when Naruto proposed to her. They were a couple throughout high school and many thought, including some of their friends, that it was too soon. Marriage is something you have to think seriously about, said Naruto's mom, Kushina. It's not just something you do because you want to. But Naruto and Hinata were serious about it. They had been thinking about marriage ever since they fell in love. Naruto wanted kids as soon as possible and who said she disagreed?

So despite the many scornful looks they got for being a young, married couple, they did it and had kids. And it was wonderful. They became one and he was a constant reminder of true love. Hinata would wake up in the morning just see her husband asleep by her side. Sometimes she'll just watch him, tears welling up because she was so lucky. Many people would die to be in her shoes.

But now it's all crumbling down.

He was packing up his belongings and didn't even glance at her as he went outside and put the boxes in his car. She had begged for him to stay, to not leave her, but he wouldn't hear any of it. What about the kids? We could always make time for them. Every excuse she tried to make, he had a rebuttal. Despite the tears, despite the pain, he was stern in his decision.

He wanted a divorce.

Why? When he said this out of nowhere in their bedroom, she couldn't believe it. But now morning came and he was going to go. Leave her side. He won't be her husband anymore.

"Naruto," she sobbed when he placed the last box in his car. Her children were right beside her and they look devastated. The divorce papers won't finalize until a few weeks but Naruto wanted to leave the house. It was hard telling the kids this morning. Boruto was furious and didn't want to see him go but he refused to leave his mom and little sister alone. And poor Himawari. She couldn't stop crying. Her eyes were red and her throat parched.

"Naruto, can't I do anything?" Hinata asked desperately, walking towards her soon-to-be ex-husband.

"No. I don't love you anymore." He stared at her before shaking his head. "Why did I marry so young?"

Her whole world stopped. She can still remember in their honeymoon how giddy he was. He'll show her his wedding ring and say, "I actually married Hinata! I'm the luckiest man alive. I'll never regret this. Never."

But now…did their love fall apart? How did she not notice?

"Bye." He got into his car and turned it on, driving away from the house.

"No," she said and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please don't leave me! I love you, Naruto! Please, stay here! Please, oh god, don't leave me!

I love you, Naruto! Don't leave!"

She woke up with a startled gasp. She sat up and the blanket fell to reveal her naked bosom. Her breathing was heavy and her heart was beating fast. Was it all a dream?

She turned to her side to see her husband fast asleep, sprawled all over the bed with drool running down the side of his face. And she couldn't help it.

She cried silently as she curled into him. She touched his skin and pressed her ear to his chest, hearing his heartbeat. Her eyes searched for his wedding ring and once she found it—it was on his finger and he never took it off—she breathed in a sigh of relief. It was a dream. No, it was a nightmare.

"Hinata?" He moved slightly and hugged her closer, throwing his leg over her naked body. "Why are you awake?"

She could say nothing and simply kissed his chest. "Go back to sleep, my love." She was silent for a bit before whispering, "I love you."

"I love you tooooo!" he said in a pitch tone. She felt him kiss her forehead before he settled down and went back to sleep.

It was a nightmare. A nightmare that vanished quickly when she woke up. It was just a nightmare.

A nightmare that reminded her how precious her Naruto is.