Beautiful: A Darling Devotee Novella by Ava Night

Author:Ava Night [Night, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreaming Lily Publications
Published: 2020-03-03T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6 – Nathan

The floor was harder and colder than it looked. I didn’t know what the fuck I’d expected. Perhaps that my legs would magically grow back to catch me? That I’d float? Either way, my mistake ended with a slow throbbing pain that was more annoying for its persistence than anything. The shock of it sent me over the edge, and I was grateful for Maisie’s soothing presence. She was more than just a pretty face. She had the touch of an angel. I hooked my arm around her slender waist and held on for dear life, as the floor melted away into an ocean – the frozen, heat-sapping, life-threatening waves threatening to pour over my head and drag me under. I kicked my feet... where were my feet? Fighting against the onslaught of dark water and doom to drag me ashore.

Somewhere. I didn’t belong here.

This wasn’t right. I thought they only had desert sand and hot winds and camels. All around me, I could hear people yelling. Something beeped. Something loud. I clutched the warmth of Maisie as I waited for the explosion. With gums bleeding and head reeling, I squeezed – willing my heart to stop racing. Forcing my brain to kickback from the terrifying thoughts clouding my every moment.

“Nathan,” her voice whispered next to my ear, so close I could see the words streaming from her mouth. Her breath made of clouds in the cold.

“Nate... it’s okay. Come back to me. You’re safe!”

Swallowing hurt. There were salt and sand and iron on my tongue. Something hurt. My brain fought with my body, telling it to ignore the pain and get up and move. But something was missing, and my head refused to acknowledge that.

And then there was nothing but beautiful Maisie. Her face was hovering over mine. Her lips pressed softly against my forehead as warm tears splashed over my cheeks. They trickled down my jaw and neck, thawing the ice-cold grip of dream-memory... Was that even a thing?

If it wasn’t, it should be. No, it was a thing. But we didn’t call it that.

I already knew what it was even if I didn’t want to admit it. I’d taken enough classes in my military career to recognize the signs and the symptoms.

∞ ∞ ∞

“Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” the doctor said. His white coat was too bright, his bald pate shiny beneath the fluorescent lights of his office. Dr. Sigsworth sat behind the broad expanse of his desk with fingers laced together above his elbows. The dark wood was in stark contrast to the white walls, floor, ceiling, and coat. He smiled politely over his knuckles in a way that made me want to slug him in the jaw.

He continued, “Otherwise known as PTSD. I’m sure you’re familiar with it?” I tilted my head back, and Maisie smiled down at me, nodding encouragement. I turned back to the doctor. “Yeah. Of course. But that’s not what I got. I think there might be some kind of... brain damage or something,” I said.

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