Kyler wasn't used to sleeping. His dreams were vivid, disorienting, and just out of reach once he woke. It left him feeling more exhausted than when he first laid down. Most of his dreams, that he could remember, were snippets of the conversations he had throughout the day. Little chats with his Sides, his kiddos, or Expression would float in and out of his awareness. Along with whatever emotions those memories evoked.

At the daycare, the smell of play-doh wafting through the air:

'Mr. Morality-'

'No, buddy, I'm Mr. Kyler, remember?'

Or in the kitchen, with bright, early morning light and chilly air:

'We're almost out of jam.'

'Oh, I can go to the store later.'

And in a small, warm space, all of his own:

Would you like more sugar in your tea? Have you met Mr. Snuggles? Please calm dow-

Wait… that last one wasn't from today. Who's Mr. Snuggles?

Kyler, in the false-awakeness that dreams provided, felt almost invisible. As if he was only as real as the dream around him.

I'm perfectly calm.

Kyler flinched at the wave of anxiety that burst through his mind like an angry wind. He tried to focus on his more typical dreams, but the sensations kept itching in the back of his mind. What was that frustration? Kyler couldn't escape it, the relentless burning that was settling itself deeper into his skin.

A presence pressed against his consciousness, like a bad thought that wouldn't go away. Almost a physical sensation, the understanding of unrest. Kyler felt himself look around, but within his foggy memories there wasn't much to see. The kiddo in the dream before him disappeared like sand in the wind. Kyler couldn't even remember which kiddo he was talking to anymore.

The daycare around him shifted to a similar, yet unfamiliar setting. Kyler knew he was safe in the new space, despite the swirling emotions it evoked. Warmth and connection, for certain. But the anger and fear he felt earlier had deeply saturated the very air. Kyler couldn't breathe without feeling like his chest was filling with gasoline.

The room, what he could make of it through his disoriented state, was no bigger than the average classroom. The yellow walls made it hard to look around, as if the sun had been flattened out around them. A large, black oval hung on the far wall; the contrast drawing Kyler's eye to it. Every so often the oval flickered with static, but an image wouldn't appear.

Have another drink! A thought, a voice echoes around him, despite the small space. Kyler rubbed his eyes and looked toward the sound. He felt a jolt run through him at the sight of Patton. Or the thought of Patton. Kyler had only seen him in pictures before, but there was no doubt who sat before him. On the ground, surrounded by fluffy pillows and stuffed animals, Patton sipped from a pink tea cup. He chewed his lip, his gaze locked on something in front of him.

A wave of dizziness made Kyler's head spin as he turned to look across the low table to find Virgil. He held his chin in one hand. The other remained firmly planted on the table. Virgil was a disheveled sight; his jaw was clenched tight and his make up had smeared. The dark eye shadow that usually neatly outlined his eyelid was now smudged down his cheeks. His eyes were rimmed red and his shoulders shook every few breaths.

"Virgil?" Kyler said, but his voice sounded thick to him. The air became too dense for his words to reach the others. They continued to stare at each other as if Kyler had never appeared. Kyler stepped closer to the table. He glanced behind him to find a stuffed rabbit plop against the ground, where he was just standing. The rabbit flopped over and stared up at Kyler with sightless bead eyes.

Kyler shivered and carefully picked his way across the room. He avoided stepping on any of the toys or pillows. Something in his gut told him that was a bad idea.

Patton opened his mouth but no words came out. Instead, Kyler heard the echoes of his voice within his head. It sounded murky and distant, but undeniably Patton.

'Why don't we take deep breaths-'

Virgil's response came quickly, 'I'm breathing.'

Kyler couldn't see any obvious moment from Virgil. His mouth had sealed shut, and his chest didn't rise and fall with an inhale. Virgil could be a statue with how little his attention wandered from Patton's face.

Patton took a sip of his tea. His nose scrunched up and his lip curled.

Bitter?

Patton shook his head, going for another sip. I like it.

Liar.

Kyler flinched. Patton choked on his tea. Static crackled from the oval screen on the wall. Virgil moved for the first time. He cooked his head stiffly to look at the screen. The static danced across the screen and the more Kyler looked at it the woozier he got. Kyler froze up as dark eyes landed on him. His gaze locked with Virgil's. He shivered as Virgil squinted at him.

Kyler's heart raced. His stomach churned. If Virgil kept looking at him like that he was going to be sick. A sharp pain formed at the top of his head.

Virgil's voice was clear in his mind. A warning. An order.

Go. Away.

The TV screen above them flicked to life; bright light blinding Kyler. A biting wind pushed him to back up from the table. Kyler stumbled, he heard a loud squeak as he regained his balance. Looking down, he saw he had stepped on the stuffed rabbit. Patton glanced away, taking another sip of tea that he didn't like. Virgil's intense glare remained on Kyler.

"Wait!" Kyler said. "I'm sorry!"

But it was to no avail. With a rush of confusion and fear, the room disappeared.

Kyler's eyes flung open as he twisted in Patton's bed. His back ached with the memory of something he never experienced. He tried to reach behind him, as if touching the scar would make the pain disappear. But his fingers remained out of reach. His nails dug into his skin before immediately smoothing over the raw spot apologetically. He felt more hands, his hands, holding himself together. He breathed heavily, focusing on the warm pressure of his arms against his chest.

He felt hot and cold at the same time; sweaty and shaking in the worst way. He slowly released the tension in his muscles, glancing around the room. Patton's room was busy, with several beloved pictures on the walls. He kept it fairly clean, with only a stray stuffed animal or sweater on the floor.

Stuffed animal… Kyler frowned as a headache began to build behind his eyes like a thunderstorm. Stuffed animal- why did that feel so familiar?

Kyler wasn't sure what he had dreamed or why it left him feeling so shaken. His back felt sore, the skin around his scar was tight. He tried to remember more than his kiddos' expressions, but the thoughts remained just out of reach. He rubbed his arms as he felt the fading embrace of his dream. Most emotions he knew well, but Kyler had never felt such a deep and growing sense of urgency.

It made him feel a little Anxious.

Tell me what you think!