The rains came during the night , accompanied by thunder and lightning from the heavens.
My dreams were peaceful and my husband home.
But I was unable to sleep, I lay in the new bed and stared at the ceiling. Listening to the sounds of the night's storm. A restless sleep came to me till the early morning…..
Slowly I woke.
Hearing the restless sounds of Hector pacing , the soft sounds of his barefeet padding across the floor.
It was a sound I'd not heard in monthes.
Hector would pace for hours at a time , back and forth across the floor , from one end of the room to the other.
If he did not wish to sleep he would walk. If he could not sleep he would walk. Even if he were burdened with thoughts he would walk. Going nowhere in the hours he paced.
During the beginning of our marriage it drove me mad. I could not sleep with the soft sounds , or watching his shape walk from one end of the room to the other.
Now it drove me mad for different reasons.
Slowly sitting in the bed , my hair curtaining my face falling over my bare shoulders. I watched him pace from one side of the room to another. Hands atop his head with his fingers entwined.
Back and forth.
Sleepily I spoke , "Hector?"
Turning his head to me , even in the almost darkened room I could see his eyes.
"Have you worn yourself out? Or are you hiding from your dreams?"
"I'm not tired."
Ah , yes , he was not tired. It always bothered me how he could live on so little sleep. While he did not always wake screaming , he often did not wish to press his luck. He would lay in bed , pace , or even go to the stables.
"Do not lie to me Hector." I warned.
Hector was silent for a moment , then he began to rock onto his heels , then onto the front of his feet. Back and forth. "If I go to bed with a full mind , I'll find no rest."
While I did not wish to sleep without him at my side. I did not wish to wake from his screams.
"Lay down , love. I slept earlier today." Hector assured me.
Biting off my answer to him , he'd hardly gotten a nap. After such a day he should have slept the entire night. But he wouldn't.
Unwillingly I laid down , listening to the soft padding of his feet upon the floor.
Listening to him pace for what seemed like hours.
Laying still I could hear his padding become heavier , as he slowly became angrier.
Frustrated or simply tired.
Till finally he came to bed, he simply sat down and ran a hand through the tangled locks of his hair. He lay down atop the sheets and simply stared at the ceiling.
Slowly I made my way over to him, till I lay curled up beside him. I kissed his bare chest, "I love you." In turn he kissed my temple and pulled me closer to his side. Till no space remained between our bodies. "You know I love you more then anything in this world?" I smiled and kissed his cheek as I was much closer.
We lay curled up, whispering to one another, when we were within inches. Until a soft knock came to wake Hector. Only when he left did I roll onto his side of the bed and sleep. As mine was cold and his was warm, and still smelled of him.