Chapter sixty five: the unending nightmares

Aria’s POV

I wake up with a start, feeling a tight pain shooting through my chest. I try to breathe, but something stands between my airflow.

"Hey, breathe." I don't know how or when he got there, but his voice was in my head.

"Breathe, sunshine." He pulls me into his arms, rubbing a hand on my back. While I try to breathe, it doesn't seem to be working; a tear rolls down my cheek.

I don't know why it's hard to breathe, but a few distracting words from Xander helped. It felt as if the pearly gates just opened up for me.

"That's it, baby, breathe slowly." His hand motions up and down, and I follow, taking a breath one after the other.

I wrap my arms tighter around him, tears rolling down my face. "I'll go get you some water," he stands to go to the kitchen, but I tighten my hold on his shirt.

"No, please don't," I hold him tighter. "You can't go, you can't leave me alone," I sob.

"I won't leave; I'm staying right here with you." He hugs me back. Even with his arms around me, I can't