She woke up in the middle of the night, disturbed by her own thoughts. She had been dreaming – in her dreams she and Gaara had reversed roles.
She went out into the living room, not bothering to dress. Gaara was asleep; she could tell even from her own room. She had gotten used to his habits by now; she knew what he sounded like when he was awake, when he slept.
She went to the bathroom first, and splashed water on her face to clear her mind of the nightmares, and then she went to the kitchen. She got herself a glass of milk from the fridge and went to stand in the doorway to the living room.
For a minute she stood there, listening to Gaara's breathing, slow and even, in and out. She had forgotten what it was like living with another – she used to be around her family all the time, and the sound of night breathing was just part of the background then. It was something novel now; now she noticed it.
She stepped around the couch and looked down at Gaara's sleeping face. She felt strange, as if she was still in a dream.
It was strange to see him sleeping. She knew he did it, now that he was free of the beast, but still... He looked peaceful. She wondered what he looked like with his own face, asleep. Unthinking, she let the illusion slip away.
"Such a strange, small man..." She whispered. "Who looks so lonely while they sleep?"
She finished her milk and went back to bed.