22. Awakening my love

Someone was shaking me awake.

I reluctantly opened my eyes and was staring right into Josh’s. Again. He was on his side, propped up on one elbow.

Something was tickling my cheeks. Tears. I was crying. I was crying in my sleep?

"Sorry to wake you, but you were crying so hard I couldn't…" Josh tried to smile but a torn expression marred his features.

"It's okay,” I whispered. “Thanks for waking me."

"Was it a bad dream?"

I closed my eyes and tried to remember what my dream was about. There were flashes of the neighborhood I grew up in, the giant oak tree I used to sketch under, the park…there was this person, hugging me, but his face was obscured. The flickers were quick, I had them, and then they were gone. Zilch. "No."

"Wanna tell me about it?"

"I-I can’t remember any of it, Josh."

With a sigh, he flopped back on the bed, eyes on the ceiling. "You were dreaming about Nelly again," he said. "Saying his name over and over. Saying you loved him." He looked pained, as though whatever I'