It was around midnight when Anna, for reasons she couldn't explain, felt a surge of annoyance the moment she saw Tom. But despite the irritation, something inside her stirre a quiet, unfamiliar warmth. She found herself wanting to see him more, even though she couldn't quite figure out why.
By 3 a.m., Anna was jolted from sleep by a nightmare. The images were chaotic accidents, blurred faces, and the sensation of being lost. Panic rose in her chest, and she started crying uncontrollably. The drama of it all overwhelmed her, tears staining her pillow as the fear gripped her tightly.
And then, out of nowhere, Tom appeared. There was no call, no warning he simply emerged at her door like a presence she hadn't even known she needed. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side, pulling her into a tight hug, his warmth filling the coldness of the room.
Anna clung to him, the tears flowing freely. Tom, too, was crying, his own guilt and regret weighing heavily on him. He had left her alone, far from home, and now, seeing her like this, it felt unbearable.
"I'm sorry… I should never have left you alone," Tom whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm not leaving again. We'll go back home. Our home."
As he spoke, he gently patted her back, waiting for her to calm down. His words were soft and reassuring, "Nothing's going to happen. I'm right here. You're safe now. Just breathe."
There was something in his voice, something familiar and comforting, that made Anna's heart ache in the best way. His words wrapped around her like a soft blanket, and she began to slow her breathing, her panic slowly ebbing away.
When she finally looked up, it was as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. The sight of Tom, holding her, grounded her in a way she hadn't realized she needed. She felt a rush of emotions, a need to tell him about the nightmare, about everything but something held her back. Maybe it was the warmth in his arms, the sense of peace his presence gave her. Or maybe it was the realization that in that moment, everything she needed was right there with him.