Counting Sheep

Hello, hello! I'm back with a new chapter for you guys. This one is pretty quick to just hold you over until the next one. Thank you guys for being so patient with me and so understanding. I hope that you guys enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I will be updating soon, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I love you all so so much! -Hannah<3

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CHAPTER 15: A scream pierced the air as Layla's eyes snapped open. It was only then did she realize it was her who had been screaming. Sweat coated her body and tremors still shook her hands.

Another nightmare.

Dammit.

She heard a soft noise coming from behind her and she turned to find Hazel hovering over her, a worried look on the little girl's cherub-like face. Layla's heart twisted as she felt the guilt of putting that concerned expression there.

Hazel made a soft whimpering sound as she looked back and forth as if looking for the source of Layla's nightmares.

Layla smiled sadly.

If only her demons were in the room right then. If they were she would be beating at them, stabbing them-until they were dead and gone and she could hopefully have the beautiful peace that she yearned for.

Only life wasn't that simple nor that easy.

Hazel let of a soft mewling sound, looking everywhere around the room as she lifted her small hand to wipe the tears away from Layla's face—tears she hadn't even realized had fallen.

Sensing Hazel's rising distress herself, Layla sat up to pull the little girl into her arms, holding her tightly.

"Shh, it's okay. I'm okay." Layla whispered.

In her mind all she could hear was, 'I'm not okay. I'm not okay.'

Soon, Hazel began to calm and her breaths evened out and in that time, Layla had remembered her nightmare.

It all came flooding back to her in a rush that made her throat and heart ache alike.

When she was sure that Hazel was completely and deeply asleep, she pulled herself away and out of the bed, covering the little body back up and stroking her finger down the little girl's soft cheek.

The sting in Layla's eyes increased and so she pulled herself away to creep into the bathroom, shutting the door quietly behind her.

She stared sightlessly for a long while, tears flooding her eyes as pain bloomed within her chest.

Numbly, Layla stripped out of the sweat sodden clothes that she could practically smell the fear coming off of. The shower was scalding hot as it hit her skin, but she reveled in the burn-in the sting.

She held out shaking hands to hold her up as she leaned her forehead against the steamed tile.

Then, her face crumpled as the dam of her emotions broke.

A soundless sob escaped her lips as she let herself slip down the wall until she was curled up on the shower floor.

The room blurred around her and was soon replaced with images of her nightmares...of her memories.

The night was beautiful.

The sky was painted a light lavender and navy blue as the coming charcoal of night began to reach out like tendrils of smoke. Trees whispered with the soft breeze passing through their leafless branches.