"No! Jessica, look out!" The shots rang out through the air. Although the gun wasn't very loud, it shook her. The final shock pulsated through her body, and she jolted.
Her breathing was heavy as her eyes flew open. Her ears were still ringing with the thunder of the shot. She was in a cold sweat as she shifted slightly, trying to catch her breath. It had been three months. She had never been affected by one of her near-death experiences like this before. She moved out from under Seth's arm and the covers, which were both draped over her. She went to the bathroom, leaving the light off but turning on the nightlight on the counter. The light glow tinted her eyesight as she turned on the faucet and stared blankly into the mirror. She splashed water on her face before turning the water off and gripping the counter. Her teeth were chattering, and her bones were shaking. She felt like throwing up, but it wouldn't come. She sat down carefully on the floor by the bathtub and clutched her knees to her chest. She rocked back and forth slightly on the floor as she buried her face in her lap and cried. She felt stupid. Why was this still affecting her the way it was? How was Seth okay? He had been the one to die nearly. It was at this point that the bathroom door creaked open. Seth entered the dimly lit room to find her sitting on the floor and crying. Seth sighed and sat down next to her. He kissed her hair, pulled her close, and let her cry against his chest.
"I don't know why it's affecting me like this. How is it not affecting you? You went through the worst of it!" She softly sobbed. Seth let a tear escape before answering.
"It is affecting me, Jessica. Just not as much as you. As painful as dying can be, it's more painful to watch the ones you care about most die and be unable to do a damn thing about it. You watched me jump in front of a gun, get shot, and be clinically dead for over three minutes twice in a short time span. The brain can only take so much trauma. I got all my crying out when I was in a coma. We watched the other suffer, and there's nothing harder than that in this world." A comfortable silence reigned over them for a few minutes before Jessica managed to whisper,
"I love you."
"I love you too," Seth stroked her hair as she fell asleep against him. Seth followed soon after. He knew she'd be okay. Jessica was stronger than he was in many ways. It didn't mean she didn't need someone to hold her now and then. She was the one who had gotten him through this, and he would be here for her now that she needed him.