HIS HEART BEAT FASTER as the car raced through the open gate. Adrenalin pumped through his body, the cars swerved, her warm soft weight pressed against him. The silhouette of the driver and a woman in front turned and smiled as if to say “we made it”. His companion kissed him in happiness. They were free, safety was just ahead. Headlights from behind lighted the inside of the car, it pulled alongside, the glint of a gun barrel protruded from the window, flashes of flame from the barrel, their car swerved off the road and crashed into a tree. He fell to the side as the door flew opened and the woman lay on him. He couldn’t move, no one moved, he felt himself sliding into darkness. A light flashed inside. Someone lifted her off him.
“Are you okay?” a voice asked.
“I think so. Help us. How’s Tracy?” He couldn’t feel anything except the warmth of her body and wondered why she didn’t speak. Everything went dark.
“C’mon fella, we’ll help you, lie still,” were the last words he heard.
He sat up suddenly. Karen sleeping beside him woke. “What is it?” she asked knowing instinctively what it was.
“The dream, it won’t leave me alone.”
“Lie down beside me. You’ll feel better in a few minutes.”
He curled into her arms and rested his head between her breasts. He was shaking and his heart beat quickly. “It’s alright my love. You’re safe now.”
“I feel weak, I’ve got to get this out of my mind…what can we do?”
“It’s a flashback from that horrible time. You’re fine. Hold me; you’ll sleep soon as always.”
She kissed his lips. “That’s better isn’t it,” she whispered, “relax, breathe slowly.”
