Chapter 7: Nightmares

Ga Eul's P.O.V

Run. Run, you need to run. Tears were coursing down my cheeks as I raced past shadows, pain filling my heart. I kept bumping into things, and my heart hurt so much! What had happened? The only thing in my mind was the word "run". Running helped; I would be fine if I ran. I raced through more passing shadows and specters, fear trickling through my veins. All of a sudden, there was a loud noise, and a bright light. Then everything went black.

"Ga Eul-yang, wake up!" A hand shook me gently, pulling me out of my dreadful dream. I heaved deep breaths, and tried to calm myself down. But the darkness and fear just kept coming back. I grabbed one of my pillows and squeezed it tightly to my chest, forgetting the injured ribs that had been taped. Giving a gasp of pain, I fell back onto my bed, pain throbbing throughout my body. Why couldn't it just end?

Yi Jung's P.O.V

I'd been sitting by Ga Eul's bedside since Jan Di had left. She still had to go to work, her family couldn't support itself. The nurses had been about to kick me out, but a gentle questioning from Ji-hoo and a flashing smile seemed to change the policy again.

As I'd perched on the chair beside her cot, I noticed her lips parting in silent words. Then, she started to shake and roll back and forth, sweat breaking out on her forehead. The heart monitor which had been beeping a reassuringly consistent pace suddenly went wild. She was having a bad dream! I needed to snap her out of it; her heart might not be able to take it.

"Ga Eul, wake up!" I shook her gently. Her eyes suddenly shot open, making me jump. Her breath was shaking, and her entire body quaked in fear. She shut her eyes abruptly, snatching a pillow and squeezing it hard, only to cry out in pain and fall back against her bed, sobbing. Terror was still etched on her beautiful face.

"It hurts!" She moaned, holding her head in her slender hands, gripping it hard. "It hurts so much!" I felt a surge of panic. I hit the call button for the nurse. She was going to harm herself.

"Ga Eul," I spoke as calmly as possible. "It was just a dream Ga Eul. It was just a dream." She began to take deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

"Sunbae…" She reached out and clung to my hand as if it was the only thing keeping her from slipping back into her dark nightmare. "It was so dark Sunbae…and then so bright. It was quiet then very loud, oh what's happening to me?!" Tears clung to her immaculate eyelashes and coated her face. She was so scared. I scooted over to sit on the bed next to her feet, holding her hand and stroking it with my thumb. With my other finger, I wiped away the tears on her cheeks, and then stroked her hair carefully. A glance at the heart monitor confirmed that she was stabilizing. She would be okay.

A nurse bustled in, his eyes scanning the machines quickly, and then pulled out a stethoscope and listened to Ga Eul's heartbeat, ignoring my position next to her. Running a practiced hand over her face and head, he mumbled something to himself. He then stood up, running a hand over his tan face, the faint stubble growing there showed that he hadn't had a chance to go home. He seemed as if he'd been at the hospital for 48 hours straight.

"She'll be okay. The fluctuation had us worried, but then it calmed. I added some more sedative which may put her back to sleep, but it will also ease the pain in her head." He took in my proximity to Ga Eul, and the hand that still clung to mine. "She is someone special to you?" He queried. I gave a slight nod.

"She is."

"Well, if it's any comfort, judging by the way she's reacted, the head pain, and the fact that she clung to you may mean that her memory is coming back, if only in her dreams. She may remember you. And based off my observations, I'd say that she cares for you too. Whether she knows it or not; though I think she knew before the accident. But you needn't worry. Her memory will return in time. If you could stay the night, that would be a help. She seems to find your presence comforting." I gave a sigh.

"Of course I'll stay." I whispered. I returned to stroking her hair, though she had long since fallen back asleep. The nurse gave me an encouraging smile, and then trotted briskly out of the room. I continued my stroking of her long dark hair.

"Everything will be alright Ga Eul. I promise."