"NO!" Maddie screamed while jolting up from her sleep. She looked around in the dark and started to cry. It had been another nightmare…about her parents. Hoping that Esteban hadn't heard anything she tried to fall asleep and silent her sobs but couldn't. She needed comfort…from Esteban. Getting up, she walked towards Esteban's room, hoping that she wasn't intruding. Maybe he had heard her, maybe he had.
She opened his bedroom door and looked in. Esteban was turned over but she couldn't tell whether he was sleeping or just laying there. She decided to just sit near him, hoping that his closeness would calm her down.
Then the tears came.
"Maddie?" Esteban wondered as he turned over. "What time is it? What's wrong…why" And he knew what was wrong.
Her parents. She had had another nightmare about her parents. This was the third time this night he'd waken up to Maddie crying, but the first time that she'd confronted him.
"I…just" Maddie started but couldn't finish. He pulled her towards him and held her in a comforting hug.
"Maddie, it's okay. Shh…I'm here for you. Nobody will hurt you, okay?"
"Oookkaayy.." Maddie mumbled. She was still really shocked by her dream…she wasn't even stable.
"Do you need to stay with me tonight?"
"Yeahh…Puuhhleeaasee…iff it's okkayy..withh" She couldn't even finish her sentence as she buried her face in Esteban's chest. Esteban held her even tighter…hoping that every ounce of strength that he had would be just enough for Maddie to get through the night.