#thunder sounds

Bruno clenches his jaw and rolls over to the side, his back to the woman he loves and adores with all his heart. He can’t let her know the constant pain he’s in, the reminders of his past mistakes eating away at his core like parasites. His breathing is becoming labored now, his body attempting to protect him, but the dam is broken now within his damaged mind.

Nothing can stop the flow of memories taking over, seeing each of his friends fall at the hands of his enemies. Seeing their hopes and dreams vanish as quickly as a candle being blown out at night, only the faint fragrance of the wick’s smoke left as a reminder of a time when the candle was lit. He feels so lost and alone now, rolling back over and curling up, his hands at his ears when the next session of roaring thunder making him almost whimper pathetically.

I can’t make it stop. No matter how much time passes. It won’t go away. I can’t do it. I can’t keep going with these nightmares.

“Bruno?”

He keeps his eyes shut, not wanting to face the possibility that the voice is simply a figment of his imagination; of a time when he had Miranda by his side.

A gentle hand at his cheek forces him to open his eyes, staring into the emerald, green pools of Kamaria. His heart skips a beat, and he can’t breathe, her beauty always catching him off guard. His lips are trembling, words unable to form in his mind as he wonders what she is thinking.

She is going to see me as a coward. A weak man… She’s always braver than I could ever be. How could I ever be with someone like her?

“I’m sorry… for waking you up. I’ll be fine,” he murmurs, hoping she would believe him and go back to sleep. Then again, he knows she is just as stubborn, if not more, than he is.

She gives him a look and presses her lips to his forehead, pulling back and stroking his hair back. “Don’t be sorry, Bruno. What can I do to help?” She asks, her hand right back to his cheek, stroking away his tears with her thumb.

“I- I don’t know anymore… I’m scared. What if I lose you? What if-”

A kiss to his lips cuts his words and he’s taken aback, not knowing what to do. His face feels so hot and warm, to which he is certain that he’s blushing like some schoolboy.  

She laughs softly and shakes her head. “You won’t lose me. Not if I can help it. Would holding me help you?”

Bruno flinches at the next crack of thunder and he immediately holds her to him, hiding his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in and a wave of calmness washes over him. “I think it would be rather helpful,” he mumbles into her skin, pressing his own kiss to her neck softly. He places his arms around her and for once in a long time, he feels safe.

“I think so too, Bruno,” Kamaria whispers back, adjusting to her new position and hugging him to her. “Will you be able to sleep?” She asks, but by the time she looks down at him, his eyes are already closed and breathing softly. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She presses another kiss to his head and she’s certain she can see a small smile on his face. “Goodnight, Bruno.”