NASTY WOMAN.

            hand tightly curled around his toy elephant, pressing it hard against his chest. he was too afraid to close his eyes, to fall into that dark world he couldn’t escape from. he hated how real it all felt, how powerless he was, unable to wake up, unable to control where he wondered off to the times he sleepwalked. today had been a long day at school, with exams and extracurriculars and homework, and even though he felt exhausted, he knew he would be unable to get a good night’s rest. he knew his mom would come to him in his dreams, winter too, harrison and meadow and mr. guinea pig ( he was never able to look at a microwave the same way after ), the changs… and the killer clowns that had gotten them all. he had never asked his mama what had really happened, but he has assumed. he didn’t want to make her sad by telling her how sad he was, how he missed everyone and how there was nothing he could do about it.

            ❛     i’m not braver than you, mama.     ❜    no, she had gone against the clowns and survived, she talked in front of hundreds of people and they believed every word she said, trusted that she could actually make a change. how could he be the bravest when he had only been a frightened witness?    ❛     you’ll wake me up, right? no matter what, you’ll get me out of there?    ❜

                  oh oz, her sweet boy. he’s been through so much in his short life. she regrets it. her only regret. that her son was exposed to the trauma, that he was involved. she loves him wholeheartedly, more than anything in this world. and although she recognises it was a necessary sacrifice, her son’s naivety, his innocence   --   it’s agony nonetheless, looking in to his eyes now, seeing him too scared to sleep. her thumb brushes soothing circles over his covered ankle before she inevitably leans forward, reaching out with her opposite hand, running her fingers through his curls and bestowing a tender kiss to his forehead. bodily, she turns until she’s sitting right beside him, her hand still cushioned by his locks but her arm now around his shoulders, holding him to her side, where he is safe.