--- Freaking thunderstorms. Gah. Darn Mother Nature for waking me up at the butt crack of dawn . ---
26. Reality Is Almost Always Wrong.
"Please don't leave yet." I don't know what made me say it. Maybe it was the things in my nightmare, or maybe it was the idea of the nightmare. My reality was right here with me, and I wasn't ready to let it go just yet.
He got quiet, and his hand paused as it rubbed my back comfortingly. "Okay," he said quietly, after a minute. "Lie down and go back to sleep. I'll be here." I was too ashamed of keeping him awake to face him, so I turned my back and did as he said.
Now, as I awoke to bright sunlight through my window, I couldn't believe it. Ed was lying next to me. He had his automail arm around my stomach and his face buried in my shoulder. At first I thought I was dreaming again. How many times had I dreamed this dream? But no. Just like last night, he was my reality.
I felt that pang of guilt. Why had I made him stay? That was hardly fair. I appreciated it; and it made me feel really comforted. But I wanted him to do something like this because he felt like he wanted to. Not because felt like he needed to. I didn't know if that was how he had felt. I wasn't going to stick around to find out.
Very slowly I slid up into a sitting position. His arm slid down to rest lightly around my waist, but he otherwise did not move. I put my hand lightly on his automail and angled my body towards the door. Next I began to carefully slide my feet out from under the covers. As soon as my bare toes hit the floor, his arm tightened around my waist. I froze, then turned myself slowly to look at him. Rather childishly, I wondered if I were in trouble. Maybe he was going to yell at me for making him stay.
"Please don't leave yet." He mumbled, burrowing his head into my hip.
I was stunned as he repeated my words from last night. All I could do was stare dumbly down at him and clutch his automail arm in my hand.
Ed was my reality. He's my past reality, my present reality, and someday maybe even my future reality.
"Reality is almost always wrong."
My reality is more right than you will ever know.