Page 36 of Dreaming

“It’s me, Nia. Come here. Let me see you.” He moved enough to lift her, turn her over, and she stared at him with wide eyes. “Hi.” Gathering her close, he held her face to his chest. “Let’s lay here together. Let me breathe you in. You just relax, Nia.”

Silent tears soaked the front of his shirt and her hands turned, her palms flattening to his chest.

“Dennis.” Moments later, she was asleep.

Crossing the room, Krystle said in a whisper, “That’s the first time she’s slept without help since she arrived.” She smiled. “You calm her rapidly.”

Approaching the bed, she adjusted the pillows for him and covered them with the blankets. “She gets easily chilled. There’s a blue call button beside the bed if you need anything, Mr. Hancock. I’ll give you privacy.”

Dennis hadn’t slept properly since she left. Holding Nia close, breathing her in, he let himself drift away.

* * *

Fake windows gave the appearance of night falling and when Dennis opened his eyes, Nia stared into them.

He rolled to his side and sifted his fingers through her hair. “It’s so curly...I love it.” Cupping her face, he added, “I love you, Nia. I should have told you before you left. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“Whenever I thought about you, I-I rubbed the necklace.” She held it up. “I rubbed away the n-numbers. I’m sorry.”

Holding her hand that held the pendant, he replied, “I’d like to have the one that you touched every day, Nia. I’ll get you a new one to wear.” Leaning forward, he kissed her head. “I love you, Nia.”

“I h-haven’t had my nails done or-or anything.” She touched her eyebrows. “I probably look a m-mess.”

“You’re beautiful, Nia. Simply perfect as you are right now because you’re in my arms again. I missed you so much.” He rubbed her back. “I love you, Nia.”

“Can’t call or text here b-but…that wasn’t why. I was in my head. Following numbers in my head and-and I forgot and I didn’t know the day or how long,” she rubbed the necklace, “it had been since I saw you. It felt like a l-long time. I tried to go faster. I wanted to go faster. I-I’m sorry I rubbed away the numbers because that means it’s been a long time. So much time and-and I didn’t know.”

“You were following the numbers?” She nodded and tears slipped from her eyes to the sleeve of his shirt. “That’s okay. I think you’re done for now. You can come home to me, Nia. Come home and sleep beside me. I love you, Nia.”

“A-a long time?”

“It doesn’t matter, baby. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you can come home now. Come home and let me love you. I love you so much, Nia.”

Holding her cheek, he kissed her and she sobbed against his lips. He hugged as much of her body as he could and kissed her, kissed her, kissed her until she started to kiss him back.

Dropping the pendant, her arm went around him and his heart slammed against his chest.

“Dennis?”

“It’s me, baby.”

She chanted his name over and over, sobbing painfully against his shoulder, her face tucked under his. “My Nia. My beautiful Nia. I missed you. I love you so fucking much.”

“I love you. I’m sorry. I love you.”

Gasping, crying, gripping her too hard, he held her as she cried herself to sleep. Then he held her as he cried himself to sleep. He continued to hold her while they slept.

He never wanted to let her go again.

Chapter Thirteen

Nia thought she was dreaming when the room brightened gradually with artificial sunlight.

She stared in awe at Dennis sleeping beside her. Placing her hand on his cheek, his eyes fluttered open.

Voice hoarse with sleep, he told her, “You’re the only sight I want to wake up to for the rest of my life, Nia.”

“I got lost.”

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