???? ???????

My body jolts awake. Like an electric shock to the brain. I was in a cold sweat. Freezing from my feet to my face. My body was filled with adrenaline causing me to shake. How was breathing heavily and I couldn't think straight. It was all a dream, right? It's always nothing but a dream.... Then again... Why does everyone seem to remember the day but never the incident? How are they all still alive... Its thoughts like this that I always have to avoid with my therapist. I don't want them to throw me in the Looney bin. I'm not going insane! I've been fine for over a decade.... Wait- what time is it?

I look over at my clock which read 5:00 a.m. ..... The same time I always wake up. I always get up at this time. Is it really all just a coincidence? I just can't get over the fact that HE would do such a thing... I look over at my phone. Should I? It's late but I need to make sure it's just a dream... I need to make sure I'm not hallucinating! Maybe that day did happen but the incident was all in my head...

.....I picked up my device. Scrolling through contacts and finding his number... Forgot I even had it for a second. I sat up on my cold room. Switching on the lamp on my night stand. Hearing the vibration and the annoying ring of the phone while I wait for him to answer. If he does. I feel bad for waking him up at a time like this.

"Hello?....who is this?"

Holy shit he did answer- Fuck what the hell do I say? Hi, sorry I was just making sure you didn't actually kill anyone. G'night! Yeah that's not happening...

On another note...his voice sounds normal. It was calm and sleepy. His accent was the icing on the cake. Laying my head back down on the pillow. I finally speak to him. "Good uh...morning?... Sorry it's Officer... I....um... I am sorry that I'm calling so late-"

"Is everything okay???
Needs me to come over?
Did something happen?
You also had a nightmare? What was it about? It wasn't about me
right!!?.. was it a bad
dream?"

Well, wasn't expecting this to be honest... How did he know it was a nightmare. Do most grown folks call their friends when they have a nightmare?... God I feel like I'm five telling my parents I had a nightmare. Yeah right, like I ever tell them. They were crazy ass trigger happy mother fuckers .... Even if their dead I'll still say it with pride. Because they generally were.

"No! well yes but also no- it was a very complicated situation. I don't want to worry you... It's probably some hallucination. I'm just trying to make sure this isn't all fake. Y'know what I mean?"

"......I'm coming over."

"No wait! I'm fi-"

.......He hung up....

I hugged my knees close to my chest. My house was dark and quiet. I usually try to keep it all off at night to save on electricity. But right now...I kept my lamp on. Even though it was technically silent. My ears kept ringing and it felt like my heart was speaking loudly. Which was causing paranoia and my anxiety to go through the roof. I felt cold again.

I tried to calm my body. Using breathing techniques, trying to calm my mind, think about something else but all was useless. Nothing was working. Now I was starting to hear things. My hearing increased. I could hear the dripping of a tap faucet which reminded me of the blood dripping off of my fellow soldiers. The pipes in the house shaking that sounded like muffled gun shots.... The darkness of the hallway...made my imagination run wild...

It was like the time I was in the dark woods alone on my first day of the war.... No commanding officer not peers. Just me and a gun...a gun I didn't even know how to properly hold. Tear in my young eyes. Dirt and mud on my clothes. My terrible attempts to cover my muffled sobs. Why did I join the military again?

The sound of knocking at my front door made me realize the tears falling from my face. Pathetic. Get a grip solider... You waken up another veteran just because your out of touch with reality. How childish... Now get your ass up and awnser that door. Be a good soldier and do what you are told.

Telling my inner thoughts to fuck off. I get up from my bed. My feet touching the hardwood tiles of my floor. Making me shiver from how cold it was. Walking down the hall of the house. It was a pretty median size house. Small houses make me feel claustrophobic and large houses make me feel anxious.

Looking through the peep hole. I looked at the tall figure. I could see him fine. Due to excellent night vision. Sometimes I love being a wolf... Opening the door I allowed him inside. Closing it behind him. He was in a large white T-shirt and camouflage sweatpants. A rather comfy attire for bed. I did blush. Feeling embarrassed to be seen in such unprofessional clothing. Considering I usually always have my officer uniform on. Or on rare occasion I wear my veteran one.

"... Apologize to call at such a late night... I suppose from one veteran to another... You can understand theses difficulties. As embarrassing as it may seem- I still deal with night terrors... " I brought him near the couch. Sitting next to him. His eyes never left mine. It wasn't unsettling but I guess this 'dream' really fucked me 7 ways to sunday.

"No no, I'm glad you called. Nothing to be ashamed for- I have them a lot ....you won't believe...mind telling me about this dream?"

"It's best not to say. For I don't wanna bring offence to you nor make it seem like I see you this type of way-"

"Can you stop."

I stopped my sentence. His voice alarmed me. He sounded angry. No, more annoyed. What have I possibly done? Did I offend him?... I haven't even told him the thing that was troubling me. I turn my gaze to him. "I'm sorry?" My voice speaks out towards him. I was sleepy but at the same time wide awake. I watched as he plays with the strings of his sweatpants.

"You talk to me as if I'm still a cub of the army... As if it's my first day of boot camp all over again... Like your STILL my sergeant major! ...you can talk normally y'know? We're not in the army anymore."

"That's rich coming from you."

"What was that?"

Even my eyes widen. I didn't mean to say that and now he probably thinks I'm crazy. "I'm sorry- I....I'm not with talking normally. I usually talk better through formalities but something so casually I have trouble with. I...h-hate messing up my speech." Running my fingers through my tail. Brushing out the knots I had. This was embarrassing. But why did I think so? Sure, I was his sergeant in the past... But we're all mammals here.

He grabs my shoulder. I tensed up. Not liking it at first. Until he brings me into his embrace. Hugging me into his chest. Was this his way of comfort? "...it was about me wasn't it?" He asked me. To which I bit my tongue. Trying to ignore and pretend I didn't hear. "...the dream was about my birthday wasn't it?"

~♥~♥~♥~♥~

(⁠⌐⁠■⁠-⁠■⁠) Just sum to write before bed. I'm sleepy but also h****.....

Anyways g'night 乁⁠[⁠ᓀ⁠˵⁠▾⁠˵⁠ᓂ⁠]⁠ㄏ