Chase Fear With Love
by Tasha
When the shadows grow too menacing, when the settling of the building sounds too much like a door creeping ajar or footsteps approaching, when the nightmares— no, the memories— seem too real, too close, she shakes me awake.
I kiss wet cheeks and hold her trembling form, my own quivering with the startle of three a.m. awakening. I murmur promises that it will be okay. I kiss salty lips and try to chase away fear with love.
It works, sometimes. But it's temporary. The nightmares return.
I hope, someday, my love will be enough to chase them away forever.