I jolt awake, my heart racing like a runaway train, as the darkness of the nightmare slowly recedes, replaced by the soft glow of moonlight streaming through the window. I'm drenched in sweat, my sheets tangled around me like a cocoon of fear and despair. My eyes scan the room, searching for a familiar face, and that's when I see him - Luis, sleeping peacefully beside me.
My mind is still reeling from the vivid images of the dream, the sense of loss and regret lingering like a shadow on my soul. I feel as though I've been punched in the gut, the air knocked out of me. Tears well up in my eyes, and before I can stop them, they begin to flow down my cheeks like a river of sorrow.
I reach out, trembling, and gently shake Luis's shoulder. "Luis," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "Hold me. Please, hold me." My words are laced with desperation, as if the very survival of my sanity depends on his touch.
He stirs, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and looks at me with concern etched on his face. "Brenda, what's wrong?" he asks, his voice soft and gentle, like a warm breeze on a summer day.
I shake my head, unable to form the words that would explain the turmoil within me. Instead, I throw myself into his arms, burying my face in the crook of his neck, and let out a sob that shakes my entire body. The weight of my fear, my anxiety, and my regret crashes down on him, and he holds me close, his strong arms wrapping around me like a shield against the darkness.
As he cradles me, I feel the warmth of his breath on my hair, and the gentle rocking motion of his body as he tries to soothe me. His touch is like a balm to my soul, calming the storm that raged within me just moments before. I cling to him, my fingers digging into his skin, as if I'm trying to anchor myself to reality.
Luis whispers soft words in my ear, words of comfort and reassurance, as he strokes my hair and holds me close. His love is a lifeline, a rope that pulls me back from the brink of despair, and I cling to it with all my might.
As the tears begin to subside, I feel a sense of peace creeping in, like a sunrise slowly illuminating the horizon. Luis's touch has chased away the shadows, and I'm left feeling vulnerable but safe, loved and protected.
I pull back from him, wiping my eyes on the sleeve of my nightgown, and look up at his face. His eyes are filled with concern, but also with a deep affection that makes my heart skip a beat. "I had the most terrible dream," I whisper, still trying to process the emotions that linger within me.
Luis's expression softens, and he takes my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're safe now, Brenda," he says, his voice low and reassuring. "I'm here for you, always."
As we sit there together, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, I feel the weight of the nightmare slowly lifting, like a fog that's burning off in the morning sun. The dream may have been just a dream, but it's left me with a newfound appreciation for this man who holds my heart, and a deeper understanding of the love we share.
[Me, woman, 31 years old, sitting up in bed, still holding Luis's hand, tears dried on my cheeks, black hair disheveled from sleep, green eyes filled with gratitude and love, wearing a nightgown, with a look of peace and contentment on my face, as Luis sits beside me, his arm around me, his expression soft and loving.]