Chapter Eleven
I drift off with my arms on the sofa, my knees curled underneath me. There’s a bed upstairs, another sofa across the room. And I can’t make myself leave his side, not when he’s vulnerable like this.
In my dream the earth crumbles to dust, only to form again in the shape of the woman. Soft grass covers her body, delicate white flowers dusted over her lush curves. She’s made of dirt and vitality, darkness come alive.
Water laps at her skin, nourishing at first. Surrounding her. She’s an island, alone.
The water keeps rising, rising, creeping over her skin before she realizes what’s happening. By the time she’s submerged, it’s too late. She can only press her mouth to the surface, one final gasp.
And then she drowns.
I come awake with a painful intake of breath, my lungs
