I am a broken mirror, there is no fixing me

"There's a cat on board?" A soft laugh escapes her, "At least they get along." Aria couldn't imagine not having anything to do to keep her preoccupied. She couldn't sit around for long without getting antsy. She hoped if she was in the same situation as Jesus she would be able to handle like he says.

Tonia’s eyes fluttered shut as she walked the halls of the enterprise at nighttime. Her footsteps dragged as the tiredness kicked in. As soon as her eyes closed fully, however, they opened instantly. She couldn’t risk it. That was why she had left her room at who knows what hour of the night. Thought she was exhausted the fear wouldn’t leave her body if she closed her eyes again. Whose to say she wouldn’t have another? 

Yes, she hated to admit it but as a child she had always had night terrors, nightmares, whatever you wish to call it. They had quieted down for a while, especially since she partied until she blacked out anyway. Partying had become a solution to the nightmares after all. Tonia could never fully recall them and sometimes when she did they seemed silly. Yet, the cold sting, the impending fear, was still very evident. 

So she took a walk. And found herself in front of the botany on the ship. She had only been there once before when Daniel had given her a tour. Her eyes followed the vines and the leaves of the trees, trying to calm herself down. Everytime she felt it safe to close her eyes again, when she thought she had finally calmed down, the fear would come back as if someone had stabbed her for the uptenth time. Startling the sleepiness away from her. Her heart would beat at breakneck speeds again and she’d have trouble breathing. So she’d walk. Walk until the cycle repeated itself. 

At this point, as her eyes traced the shapes of the foreign plants she was becoming sleepy yet again. Who knew one could sleep while standing? Either way, Tonia didn’t notice the person come up to the window as well, so she said nothing until the voice sharply broke through her desire to sleep. 

A bit startled, she looked to her right.

"Oh hello," Tonia attempted a small smile. "Didn’t see you there. Out for a late night stroll?," 

She glances at the digital clock on the bedside table and sighs in defeat. Only a couple of hours have passed since she originally came to bed, which was already late. Aria tosses the covers aside, slipping on her shoes and wanders out into the halls. The confines of her room, even with the lights on, make it hard for her to erase the images that continue to plague her even after all these years. Not to mention that she knows trying to lie back down and go to bed is useless. She can never fall asleep after these dreams, at least not for a hour or so. 

The bright light and openness of the halls soothe her tremor filled body. She continues to explore, trying to focus her mind on the place around her and not the past. But she can still hear their screams ringing in her ears like they are right next her. 

Aria takes the twists and turns of the ship and eventually ends up at the botany area. She's never been here before and the plants mesmerize her. Aria is so interested in the twisted vines and multitude of green that she didn't notice the person standing a few feet away from her. 

She considers not saying anything, and even though the plants are a distraction, a conversation is a much better one. "Do you usually hang around here at this time of night?" 

The woman jumps, startled by my question. She didn't even seem to hear what I asked. Her eyes are sleep heavy and Aria lets out an inaudible sigh. This stranger was probably going through the same thing she was, at least that's what she assumed. It's obvious the woman is tired. Normal people go to bed when they are tired. They don't hang around the botany area of the ship looking at plants unless they don't want to sleep. 

"Not exactly a stroll of my free will you can say. Trust me, I'd much rather be in bed getting my eight hours, but the mind does what it wants. I'm going to assume you're not out here for a late night stroll either?"