Kira was having another nightmare. Her brow was furrowed so deeply it looked painful, and her hand was clenched so tightly into a fist that I was scared she'd draw blood if she pressed any harder. My chest ached at the sight of her trembling, caught in a world I couldn’t reach. 

I sat beside her on the bed, and shook her lightly, my voice soft. "Kira." 

She mumbled something incoherent, still trapped in whatever dream she was having.

I called her name again. "Kira." 

Seeing her like this broke me. She had been slowly unravelling these past few days. I wanted to take away her pain, but I didn't...