Safety from memory

She bolted up right breathing hard. The dream had been horrible, the parts she could remember. Still mostly asleep, her body moving on reflex, she dawned her slippers and robe and left her room.

Her feet walked the paths through muscle memory.

When she arrived, she quietly knocked in a perfectly remembered secret rhythm, waited 5 heartbeats for a negative reply, and opened the door without a sound.

Slowly, still mostly asleep, she shuffled across the room. She took off her robe, laying it on the hook next to his, walked over to the bed, slid her slippers off and climbed under the covers next to him and moved his arm so it covered her. Almost instantly she had fallen back to sleep.

*

He had trained himself to hear the special knock  even in his dreams. It had been years since he’d heard it, yet he knew immediately what it was. Unconsciously he shifted from laying on his back onto his side and moved the covers so she could get in. When she had climbed in he reacted by pulling her close as she snuggled in.

He was still not awake, but he spoke softly the words he had used so many times before, “ Don’t worry. I’ve got you. Your safe now. No harm will come to you while I am here.”

* * * *

As the sunlight started to come through the window, he started to wake. As he shifted he realized he was no longer alone in his bed. Half opening his eyes he found the pillow next to his head covered in long hair. His eyes focused just enough to distinguish the color. When that happened he grinned slightly and sighed. He planted a kiss on the crown of her head.

“I’ve got you little one. Don’t worry,” he whispered, and snuggled back in to keep his sister safe and warm until she woke.

I would LOVE to hear comments on what you think, or if you have any edits or corrections. I am not the best writer and would love to improve.

This was prompted by a conversation that happened during episode 73 of the web series Critical Role, which is a Dungeons and Dragons game played by a group of amazingly talented voice actors.