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The bed suddenly dipped beside me, a heavy arm wrapping around my middle.

The small smile I woke up with, grew at feeling Cyrus lying beside me. Rolling onto my back, I stared up into the blackest eyes I had ever seen. My heart started racing, my chest feeling so damn tight, it felt like someone was sitting on top of me.

The man staring down at me, sneered. “I told you, you’ll never forget me.”

A scream fell from my lips.

The door suddenly banged open, startling me awake.

“Ainsley.” Cyrus flicked on the light and rushed to my side, pulling me into his arms.

That was when I broke. Sobs wracked through me, tears streaming down my face as the remnants from the nightmare slid along my skin like millions of tiny little spiders.

Cyrus rocked me back and forth, holding me and running his hands in circles along my upper back.

The sobs had been so hard, I started hiccupping. I couldn’t control my breathing, my chest ached as the cries trembled through me.

Cyrus ran his hand up and down my back, holding me tight. He never told me it was okay and that it was just a nightmare. He never told me to calm down. He just kept his arms around me.

My sobs eventually subsided, turning into soft whimpers. It had been a long time since I’d cried like that and somehow, it made me feel almost lighter in a way.

The sun was no longer streaming in through the window like my dream had implied. Glancing at the clock on my nightstand, I saw that it was only five in the morning.

“My brother was kidnapped when we were kids,” Cyrus murmured, breaking the silence. He lifted me onto his lap and sat back against the headboard, hugging me close. He pulled the blankets up and over us before he continued, “My dad came in and didn’t see Sammy anywhere. We had already lost our mom, so it hit a little too close to home for our father.”

My whimpers turned to sniffles, but the tears wouldn’t stop. My heart suddenly ached for two little boys who had lost so much at such a young age.

Cyrus ran his hand down my back, his fingers finding the hem of my oversized t-shirt. He slid them beneath the fabric, a shudder rippling through me when his hand came into contact with my skin. Anyone else and I would have pushed them away but with Cyrus, he could never get close enough. Not anymore.

“We lost our dad shortly after that,” Cyrus muttered, his voice thick.

I lifted my head, finding him staring back at me. Placing a soft peck on his mouth, I tried giving him the strength the little boy inside of him needed. The one who longed for his parents. I couldn’t say I blamed him.

I’m so sorry.

“I like to think that Sammy and I became stronger because of it. It’s not like we had a bad childhood or anything after that. It’s just been hard without them. I took my first drink at the age of eleven. The anniversaries of their deaths were coming up and I wanted to forget. I got in trouble, but with the alcohol burning through me at the time, I didn’t give a shit. About anything. My brother...” A dark shadow passed over Cyrus’s face. “He’s more closed up than I am. I think he refuses to find happiness because he’s scared it’ll be taken away from him.”

That’s so sad. For both of you.

Do you feel better?he signed to me.

My stomach tumbled like it always did whenever Cyrus used sign language. I nodded slowly.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Good.”

I went to slide off his lap when his hold tightened on me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his hands moving to my waist.

I swallowed hard.I was going to lay down, so you’re more comfortable. I’m sure I’m heavy.

“You are not heavy.” He pulled me even closer, a part of him jumping beneath me. “At all.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“I just need you close,” he murmured, running his hands up my back. “But if you need space, let me know.”

I nodded.