Tormented

The porcelain bathtub stood where it was. Plenty of water had spilt over the rim. But it was clear water, not bloody. Neither was there any hair on the floor. ‘You must have fallen asleep in the tub,’ Kieran said. ‘You had a bad dream, that’s all.’ ‘I had a bad dream,’ I muttered. ‘That’s right. It was just a dream.’ ‘I had a bad dream.’ I kept repeating it as Kieran helped me up and led me out of the bathroom. It was just a dream. ‘I’ll go get the hairdryer.’ Kieran touched my damp hair. ‘No.’ I grabbed his hand. ‘Stay with me, please.’ He nodded, then got under the covers with me. His warm skin reassured me that he was real, that I didn’t dream of him. Throughout the night, I kept touching him to make sure he was still there. He caught maybe an hour of sleep. I got none. But I felt better when the sun rose and its warm yellow rays flooded the bedroom. I was tired, but also too edgy to go back to bed. I shuffled out of bed and tiptoed towards the bathroom. The cold touch of the doorkn