Chapter Three

Lisa woke to the soft light of morning filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. She blinked sleepily, adjusting to the new day, only to find Poul nestled close against her. Sometime during the night, their positions had shifted; her wing had stretched to drape protectively over him, while his blanket was now covering her – had he moved it sometime during the night? He was snuggled up to her, and her arms naturally cradled him, holding him securely.

She glanced down at him, still deep in sleep, his face peaceful and relaxed. The lines of worry and fear that usually marked his features were softened, and his breathing was steady and even. A smile tugged at her lips, seeing him so calm.

Carefully, so as not to disturb him, Lisa brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead. Poul shifted slightly in his sleep, burrowing closer into her embrace, and she felt a surge of protectiveness for him. In this moment, the troubles and fears of the outside world seemed so distant, almost insignificant.

She had no way of keeping track of the time as she remained still, content to hold him, feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each breath. The room was so tranquil and quiet that she felt she could probably doze off again if she just closed her eyes for a moment.

As she drifted in and out of sleep, Lisa had no idea how long it took for Poul to finally stir. His eyes fluttered open, and he registered that she was still holding him with a smile.

“You…you stayed,” he said, his voice thick with sleep.

She smiled and caressed his cheek. “When I tried to leave, it seemed like your nightmares started to come back. You were calmer if I was nearby, so of course I stayed.”

“Thank you,” he said, tone soft.

“Anytime.”

In the brief silence that followed, she sensed that he really didn’t want to move at that moment.

“If there’s no real need to get up,” she said softly, “I have no objections to lying here all day with you. All I ask is that I go get the stuff from my room.” She tugged on his blanket that was still over her legs. “Did you put this on me during the night?”

Poul nodded. “I did wake once. Your wing was over me, so I was warm enough. I didn’t want you to be cold.”

She squeezed his arm. “You’re sweet. Thank you. But, yeah, if you plan on being in bed all day, I’ll just go get my bedding so neither one of us becomes a blanket hog.”

That got a chuckle out of him, the sound light and genuine. “I…I don’t think I’ve had a better night’s sleep in years. I…don’t want it to end just yet.”

Lisa smiled softly, gently removed her arms from around him, and tugged the blanket off; she used her telekinesis to drape it back over him while at the same time taking her glasses off the bedside table and putting them back on. “Then I’ll be right back. Promise.”

True to her word, it took less than a minute for her to go to her room, retrieve the blankets and pillows, and return to Poul. Asking him to sit up for a moment, she arranged the bedding so that she could lie comfortably on her back.

“Extra cushioning for my wings,” she explained, leaning back so the combination of her pillows and the ones Poul wasn’t using created enough padding to prevent pressure on the joints at her shoulder blades. “Makes this easier.” She opened her arms and pulled him to her.

Poul settled himself in her arms, resting his head on her chest, and sighed contentedly as she ran her fingers through his hair. I’m so glad you’re here, he thought.

She kissed the top of his head as she heard the sentiment. “I’ll be here for as long as you need me, Poul.” Almost immediately she sensed concern. “What’s wrong?”

He looked up at her, worry creasing his face. “What…what if…” He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to voice the thought in his head. His mind was in a jumble.

It took a moment but she finally understood. “ ‘As long as you need me’ means just that. Healing from trauma isn’t linear and won’t happen in a day or a week or a month. It could take a lifetime. If you need me for that long, then I will be here.”

It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders; she sensed his mind quiet considerably. He squeezed her tightly and whispered, “Thank you…”

The only way Lisa could track the passage of time as they both drifted in and out of sleep throughout the day was by the movement of the shadows in the room – not that she knew what time it actually was, as she still had no access to a clock or watch. It didn’t really matter, though; spending the entire day in bed, dozing most of the time, wasn’t all that unusual for her. While it wasn’t the healthiest of habits, sometimes a person’s body just needed the rest, and Poul was definitely in need of it.

He muttered in his sleep, his breathing uneven, grimacing. Several times he would jerk awake with a gasp but then relax once he realized she was still beside him. She held him as close as possible, stroking his hair, doing her best to keep his nightmares (or daymares?) at bay. Still, it felt as if his mind wouldn’t let him relax completely. She knew she had her work cut out for her.

As the day wore on, the tranquility of the room remained undisturbed, save for the occasional rustle of blankets or a soft sigh from Poul as he drifted between the uneasy realms of sleep and wakefulness. Lisa stayed vigilant, her fingers continuing their gentle path through his hair, her touch grounding him when his mind threatened to pull him back into the darkness of his nightmares.

The afternoon sunlight began to filter through the curtains, casting a warm, golden hue over the room. Lisa felt the shift in the light and knew the day was gradually slipping away. Her eyes, though weary, remained fixed on Poul, watching for any sign of distress. He seemed to sense the change as well, stirring slightly, though he made no effort to move from her embrace.

“Do you want to get up?” she asked softly, though she already knew the answer.

Poul shook his head, nestling closer to her. “Not really,” he murmured, his voice thick with fatigue. “I feel…safe here. With you.”

A gentle smile touched Lisa’s lips. “Then we stay here as long as you need.”

They fell into another comfortable silence, the only sounds in the room being their steady breathing and the occasional creak of the bed as they shifted slightly to find a more comfortable position. The world outside continued its rhythm, but within the walls of the room, time seemed to stand still, allowing them this rare moment of peace.

Poul’s grip on her arm tightened briefly, and Lisa could feel his anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. She didn’t need to probe his thoughts to know what was troubling him. He had been through so much, and the fear of reliving it all was enough to keep him on edge, even in his sleep.

“I’m here, Poul,” she whispered, her voice soothing as she pressed a kiss to his temple. “You don’t have to face anything alone anymore.”

He didn’t respond verbally, but the tension in his body seemed to ease slightly, and he let out a long breath, as if trying to expel the lingering remnants of fear.

Eventually, the golden light of afternoon faded, replaced by the cool tones of evening. The day had passed in a haze of half-dreams and soft reassurances, and Lisa felt a small pang of concern as she realized she couldn’t remember the last time either of them had eaten. Still, she knew better than to disrupt the fragile calm that had settled over Poul. Skipping a meal seemed a small price to pay if it meant he could rest a little longer.

As dusk settled, bringing with it the first hints of night, Poul finally stirred more fully, blinking up at Lisa as if waking from a long, deep sleep. His eyes were clearer, though still shadowed with exhaustion.

“Thank you,” he said again, his voice low but earnest.              

Lisa smiled down at him, brushing a stray lock of hair away from his face. “You don’t have to thank me,” she said gently. “You’re my friend, Poul. I’m here because I want to be.”

He looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and something else – something deeper, though not quite definable. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” he admitted softly.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” she assured him, her tone light but sincere. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He nodded, the last of the tension in his body ebbing away as he relaxed into her embrace once more. The night was still young, and while it would be another battle to keep the nightmares at bay, Lisa was prepared to stay with him for as long as it took.

It was the growling of their stomachs that finally forced them to return to reality and leave their cocoon of rest and comfort. Together, they made their way out of the bedroom toward the main living area, and almost immediately after exiting the hallway, Poul stumbled over to the door. Lisa sensed it was to check the locks, his telltales and traps, the intruder alarms, and whether there had been any power surges from eavesdropper tags.

This was his routine, she realized. Morning and night, coming and going, before sleep and after waking. The only reason he hadn’t immediately done his checks that morning was the safety he’d felt while in her embrace and the trust he’d placed in her ability to know if something had tried to get in while they slept.

“Poul,” she said, reaching for him. “Poul, listen to me.” She managed to direct his wild eyes towards her. “Nothing can get in here without me knowing, okay? I will hear if anyone or anything even comes close. I will sense anything that’s human or animal.”

He gripped her hands tightly, trembling. “R-robots?” he stammered. “They…they don’t know I’m here, they can’t get in here, I’m safe here, they can’t…”

“Poul!” she shouted, causing him to jump, and gently took his face in her hands. “Deep breaths, come on. In through your nose…” She inhaled, prompting him to do the same. “Out through the mouth,” she exhaled, and he followed along. “That’s it. Again. Breathe in…and out…one more time…in…and out…”

Poul’s legs were shaking, and Lisa led him to the couch to sit. Tears started to prick at his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

She wrapped her arms around him and ran her fingers through his hair. “Shh,” she soothed. “I will know, Poul. I will know if anyone or anything comes within six feet of your door. You are safe.”

Promise? was the desperate thought.

“I promise,” she stated firmly, pulling slightly away to look him in the eyes.

Almost able to believe her – wanting so desperately to believe her – Poul buried himself in her arms, sobbing softly. She held him and waited, rocking him gently until his tears subsided.

“Shall we find something to eat?” Lisa suggested.

He nodded, and they stood up to go to the kitchen, then he hesitated. “I’m…afraid I may not have much of a selection. I…don’t do much in the way of shopping.”

Lisa glanced around the kitchen, noticing how tidy it was despite the sparseness of ingredients. It was also, at least, a decent size for the square footage of the apartment. “It’s okay,” she said, giving him a small smile. “Let’s see what you have.”

Poul opened a cabinet to reveal a few neatly stacked heat-and-eat meals, the kind that only required a few minutes in a thermo unit – Kaldor City’s equivalent to a microwave. He pointed to the small appliance, which lived up to its name. There were no fresh ingredients, no variety, just the bare essentials to keep him going.

He sighed. “Before the sandminer…” His voice faltered, and he looked away. “I used to be able to make proper meals, keep myself in shape. But now…I avoid the food dispensaries that have robots. There aren’t many places left that don’t rely on them, and I can’t…I just can’t…” His voice broke off, and he shook his head in frustration.

Lisa reached out, taking his hand gently. “I understand. You don’t have to explain.”

“There are delivery services, but…” He squeezed her fingers. “They use robots and…I-I can’t have them know where I live, Lisa, I can’t…”

Once again, she took his face in her hands and pressed her forehead to his. “Breathe, Poul. In and out…that’s it…” She guided him through another series of calming breaths. “What you have is enough for today,” she said gently, trying to soothe his anxiety. “And we’ll figure out something better for tomorrow. I’ll help you through it.”

Poul inhaled deeply, a flicker of hope mingling with the hesitation in his eyes. “You…really think we can?” His tone was tentative, as if the idea of a way out was something fragile, easily shattered by his own fears.

She smiled softly, her voice steady. “I know we can. You’re not alone in this.”

He exhaled shakily, the tension easing just a little. She could feel the weight of his doubt still there, lingering like a shadow, but for now, it had softened. She glanced at the meager selection of meals and added with a playful wink, “And I make a pretty mean roast.”

Poul let out a quiet, genuine laugh – a sound she hadn’t heard much from him – and it lifted her spirits.

End chapter three.

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