Hide And Seek ~ Josh Dun

Chapter 37

Opening my eyes, I notice that it feels like something is pressing on my chest. Sitting up slowly, the pressure just gets worse. Sliding out of bed, my vision gets blurry as I wobble to the bathroom.

Opening the door, I turn on the faucet and splash my face with cold water. It helps the dizziness go away, but it still hurts to breathe. Sitting on the floor, I put my head between my knees, which are curled up to my chest.

"Baby, you ok?" I hear Josh's voice from outside of the door. He sounds so tired. He needs his sleep...

"Yeah baby, just woke up a bit hot. I'm going to try to take a cold shower." It hurts so bad to talk, feels as if my voice is drowning. I hear him so ok, then I hear his feet scuffling back to the bed.

Crawling over to the shower, I turn on the cold water. Without thinking, I jump in with my pjs. Gasping from the cold, I feel some air sneak it's way down to my lungs. Crouching under the water, I keep trying to breathe. Over the course of a couple of minutes, it gets easier and easier.

When I no longer feel any progression, I get out. My brain no longer feels so cloudy, so I strip out of my clothes, hanging them over the top of the shower. Grabbing a towel, I dry my hair and then wrap it around my body.

Peeking out the door, I check to see if Josh is awake. I can hear his little snores, so the coast is clear. I tiptoe over to my clothes, trying to find my way in the dark. When my toes hits a bag, I bend down and grab whatever I can find. Going back into the bathroom, I put it on.

In the dark I managed to grab some underwear, a tank top, and the shortest shorts I have. Sliding into them, I hang up the towel and walk back out to the bedroom, hoping to sleep. Before I can shut the bathroom light off, I hear a low whistle coming from Josh who has taken a seat on the edge of the bed.

He motions for me to come closer to him, which causes me to laugh, but I still go to him. He puts his hands on my hips and looks up at me, a lopsided smile on his face. He lays his head on my tummy, and sighs. I put my hands on his head, burying my fingers in his hair.

"Are you ok, Abby-Lynn?" Josh's voice is so solemn and sad,. I want to tell him the truth, but I know I can't; he won't go back to bed.

"I'm fine, baby. Like I told you, I just got a little hot." This is the first time I ever lied to him.

"You called me baby." He looks up at me with big puppy dog eyes. Then, he grins, the squinty grin that melts my heart. "I like hearing you say it."

Smiling to myself, I gently pry him off of me, pushing him back on the bed. I walk around to my side, and lay down, facing the opposite way from him. He wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. Josh kisses my shoulder, and seconds later he is asleep.

I hold tightly on to his hand, terrified if I stop breathing again. For a while I sit there, just staring into the darkness. But I feel Josh squeeze my hand.

"It's ok, princess. I got you. Try to sleep." Hearing him say that, I finally let sleep take over, knowing I'm safe. Maybe I don't have to do this alone after all.