An unsettling dream

Chloe tossed and turned on the couch, murmuring some things in her sleep. She was no doubt in the throes of a bad dream. She had been watching a movie on the television but had fallen asleep before it finished. She moaned and turned again so that this time she was facing Ethan who was sitting in the armchair across from her and looking at some reports that he had brought home from the office. He glanced at her to see that her forehead was creased with whatever emotions the dream was causing.

“Chloe?” Ethan called gently, but she did not respond to him, neither did it seem that she even heard him saying her name. She exhaled softly through her mouth, and her face looked as though she was in pain. Ethan sighed softly. She was probably dreaming about the accident again. He dropped his laptop, stood up, went to the couch, and was about to wake her up, but stopped short when she spoke.

“Lucas, stop. You’re hurting me. Let go.”