Got it?" I bit my lower lip to hide its trembling and nodded.
"You don't look convinced," he said softly.
"I'm afraid I'll lose myself in you, Gideon.
I'm scared I'll lose the part of me I worked so hard to get back."
"I'd never let that happen," he promised fiercely.
"What I want is for us both to feel safe.
What you and I have together shouldn't be draining us like this.
It should be the one rock- solid thing we both count on."
My eyes stung with tears at the thought.
"I want that," I whispered.
"So much."
"I'm going to give it to you, angel."
Gideon bent his dark head and brushed his lips over mine.
"I'm going to give it to both of us.
And you're going to let me."
* * *
"Things seem to be looking better this week," Dr.
Petersen said when Gideon and I arrived for our Thursday night therapy appointment.
We sat near each other this time, with our hands clasped together.
Gideon's thumb caressed my knuckles, and I looked at him and smiled, feeling settled by the contact.
Dr.
Petersen flipped open the protective case of his tablet and settled more comfortably in his seat.
"Is there anything in particular you'd like to discuss?" "Tuesday was tough," I said quietly.
"I imagine so.
Let's talk about Monday night.
Can you tell me what happened, Eva?" I told him about waking up from my own nightmare to find myself trapped in Gideon's.
I walked him through that night and the following day."So you're sleeping separately now?" Dr.
Petersen asked.
"Yes."
"Your nightmares" - he looked up at me - "how often do you have them?" "Rarely.