CHAPTER 10: HORRIBLE NIGHTMARE

In Zarina's cozy room, Draymond lay on the bed. The dim light seemed a pall of agony that covered him. The room felt stifling as the sun lowered in the sky. Darkness started to fill his mind.

He closed his eyes, hoping to find comfort in sleep and give his exhausted body and mind some rest. However, falling asleep was a challenge, like trying to hold onto grains of sand slipping through his fingers. 

As he slowly drifted into sleep, the memories of his traumatic past started to flash in his mind. With his eyes closed, flashbacks from his childhood appeared vividly.

Draymond couldn't escape the haunting memories of his traumatic past. It was as if time had a cruel way of dragging him back to that fateful night when he lost his mother. The memories played before his eyes like a horrifying movie, each scene unfolding with painful clarity. 

"Baby, don't you leave this room until Mama comes back," his mother's words echoed in his mind. 

Longing and sadness suddenly filled him.

A teardrop fell on the corners of his closed eyes, his mother's face vividly flashed in his mind, a painful reminder of the love he had lost. 

"Yes, mama," Little Draymond obediently said. 

His mother had kissed him on his forehead before going to the door and locking it, leaving him alone in his room.

With a trembling hand, Draymond curled his small body on the top of his bed, but something held him back from falling asleep. As minutes turned into hours, little Draymond tried to sing a lullaby to lure himself into sleep. But his efforts were in vain as his weary mind kept him awake. 

Draymond rolled down from his bed, his small feet landed on the floor as he made his way to the door. Yet, the moment his tiny hand touched the cold doorknob, he remembered his mother's words.

'Sigh! Mom said I have to wait for her to come back,' he pouted his lips as he mumbled.

He slowly took a tiny step to climb back onto his bed, but a loud crashing sound and a few gunshots rang all over the house that quickly halted his steps. He swiftly ran to the door, flung it open, and hurriedly descended downstairs to check the reason for the commotion.

When he reached the last step of the stairs, he raised his head to see the surroundings, and to his surprise, a horrifying scene unfolded before his innocent eyes.

His eyes widened in horror, and his small limbs began to tremble. A horrible scene welcomed him. The shards of shattered glass, toppled appliances, and pools of blood staining the carpet and the wall were clearly visible. Everything is chaotic.

Little Draymond saw his mother lying on the marble floor, lifeless and bathing in her own blood. 

He was stunned for a moment and gradually absorbed it into his senses. After a moment, he runs hurriedly toward his Mom, squatting on the floor and hugging her mother's lifeless body. 

"Mommy, wake up, wake up!" Little Draymond cried out loud, tears continuously streaming down his cheeks.

Draymond suddenly shifted his eyes to his cold, trembling hands. It was covered with the blood of his mother.

'Blood, blood, blood,' words that kept on ringing in his head. 

Crying desperately, Draymond shook his mother's lifeless body, "Mommy, wake up! I'm scared, Mommy, wake up!" he pleaded softly, his eyes welling with tears.

The pain was unbearable, and tears choked him, making his breath difficult. He desperately wanted to help his mother, but he couldn't move. Severe pain and fear paralyzed him, making him suddenly freeze as he stared blankly towards his Mom.

Minutes later, he managed to regain his composure, urging himself and mumbling, "Breath... breath... breath... slowly, Draymond." 

He tried to let out his sadness, but all that came out were choked sobs. It felt like painful lumps were stuck in his throat, and they slowly started to burst out.

Sweat dripped from Draymond's face as he tossed and turned, trapped in this terrifying memory. His chest heaved up and down as he fought for breath. His face contorted with pain as he desperately tried to wake up from this horrible nightmare.

Meanwhile, Zarina tiptoed as she entered the room where Draymond was sleeping, her steps careful and light.

'I hope he was peacefully sleeping by now,' she silently prayed. 

She opened the door slowly, avoiding making any noise. As the door creaked open, she saw Draymond constantly shaking his head, his hands tightly gripping the bed sheets.

Zarina's eyes widened. 'He's having a nightmare. I should wake him up,' she thought frantically, biting her lips. 

Then, she hurriedly ran to the bed to wake up Draymond. When she reached him, she immediately shook his shoulders.

"Hey! Draymond, wake up! Wake up!" she said loudly, constantly shaking his shoulders and tapping his cheeks a bit harder.

After a few moments, Draymond slowly calmed down, and his eyes fluttered open. He quickly sat up in bed, clutching his throat and gasping for air.

'It's just a nightmare. It's just a nightmare!' Draymond cried out in silence.

Zarina climbed onto the bed and gently ran her hands to Draymond's back to comfort him. 

Suddenly, Draymond wrapped his arms around her waist, embracing her tightly. His body is still trembling in fear.

Zarina's mouth fell open in shock. She couldn't move or react, and her hands froze in midair.

"Don't… leave me, please?" Draymond pleaded softly between his sobs.

'I know she'll be laughing at me tomorrow, seeing how vulnerable I was. But at this moment, I badly needed her. I don't know what comes to my mind; all I know is that I want someone to be by my side,' he thought.

Zarina's heart softened, and her hands gently glided to his back once more.

"Uh... okay, I'll stay until you fall asleep," she said softly, allowing the warmth of his breath to brush against her ear.

'Thank you for always being here when I needed help,' he murmured silently.

After a few moments, they both settled on the bed, and Zarina's gentle hands brushed Draymond's hair as he began to drift back into a peaceful sleep.

As Draymond's consciousness faded, his heart felt at ease, as if his mother's gentle touch comforted him. 

Minutes passed, and Zarina felt tired and sleepy; her hands started to get numb. She stopped combing his hair when she noticed that he had already fallen asleep.

"Thank God, he has already fallen asleep," she murmured and stretched her body.

"Ahh! I had a long day today," she mumbled. A few moments later, she dozed off to sleep.