The Revelation #4

“Come in, sit down, and eat.” Ann pointed to the table, still standing next to Lee.
“Hallo, Lee, how’s your shoulder?” Ash said, he looked awkward, uneasy, as if he was waiting for her to throw him out.
“Hi. It’s completely healed. No pain, no swelling. I’m going to take a shower.” Before she got far, Joe asked a question that strangely lightened the tension in the room.
“Where’s the TV?”
Maria moved to Ann and leaned her head on her shoulder. “Lee threw a chair into it. Missed Ash by a mile.” Everyone was laughing now, except for Ash who just smiled.
“Help yourself to something to eat, who’s coming in after me?” Lee tensed when Ash’s eyes rested on her. They felt empty, sad.
“I am,” Maria and Ann said at the same time.
“Or you could both go, right now,” Billy said taking his seat.
“Watch it.” Ann gave him a curt look. They had all moved to the kitchen table.
“So why do you girls look so…beautiful, not?” Joe said with a smile, taking a seat next to Maria.
Lee froze, and turned in their direction. Maria and Ann had their eyes on her, the boys were distracted by the food, but Ash’s eyes were still on her, questioning their reaction. She really didn’t want them to know about her nightmares.
Maria spoke up when the room went quiet. “We pulled an all-nighter, finals in two days.”
Lee exhaled, but Ash was still looking at her. He hadn’t bought Maria’s explanation. She pretended not to have seen the big question mark on his face, walked down the hallway into the bathroom. She needed a soothing shower, a long one.
Lee walked out of her room feeling fresh and clean. She put on a fresh pair of cotton pants, and a black long sleeved shirt. Maria was in the shower and taking her sweet time. Lee was hesitant about going back to the kitchen. She wasn’t quite ready to see Ash after their fight, especially since he’d seen through Maria’s lie. But she wasn’t going to hide in her own home. She put on a courageous smile and strolled into the living room.
Ash was pacing, his face red and stern. Billy stood in front of Ann; his posture was protective, as if he was shielding her. His body was between her and Ash. Joe just stood at the far end of the room, his hands crossed over his chest.
“What’s going on?” She moved slowly, unsure of what she had walked into. Ann came and stood in front of her. Before she could say anything, with two strides Ash was at Lee’s side, fuming.
“Why didn’t you tell me, why didn’t you call me the minute she showed up here!” His jaw was tight, Lee could hear his teeth grinding. He was trying to control himself.
Ann had told them. Lee could feel a huge weight on her shoulders. She didn’t even have the strength to be mad. She turned to Ann. “How much did you tell them?” Her voice was tired, resigned.
“Everything…including the nightmares. I’m sorry, but he had to know what he was doing to you, to all of us! Especially after his lunatic girlfriend threatened you! You hadn’t had a nightmare in weeks, and then his psycho chic showed up and made them even worse than before!”
She was right, the nightmares were worse. They even seemed longer. They were more vivid, the screams clearer, tormenting Lee even more. Her screams were even louder than they usually were.
Ash turned to her, his hands in fists at his sides. “I told you already, she is not my girlfriend, I have nothing to do with her!”
“You live under one roof!”
That slammed hard into Lee’s chest, she could feel the little strength she’d been holding on to drain out of her. They live together.
“I told you that can’t be helped!”
Billy was back in his defensive position between them, completely shadowing Ann with his body. “Ash, calm down.” Billy’s voice was cool and relaxed. “Ann, go shower, Maria is done.”
“I’m not…” Ann tried to protest, but Billy didn’t give her a chance.
“Ann, please!” Billy had his hands on her arms and he was pushing her back slowly.
Lee was getting tired of everything. She just wanted some peace even if it only lasted a few minutes. Ann turned and left. Lee walked to the couch and sat down. She was feeling exhausted, she didn’t have the strength to endure everything anymore.
“Lee, talk to me.” Ash went and sat next to her. His face had softened. The rage was gone, replaced by concern.
“It’s annoying when someone doesn’t tell you things, isn’t it?” She was casual about it; she didn’t want to pick a fight. She just wanted him to stop pestering her.
“Lee, this is no time to be childish!” he scolded.
“Ash, I haven’t slept in a week, we haven’t slept in a week because of me. I am exhausted, I don’t want to go ten rounds with you.” She turned and looked at Billy. “Would you please take Ann and Maria to your place today, better yet, let them stay the whole weekend. They need to rest before the finals, and they won’t be able to do so under the same roof with me.”
Ash, brushed his hand over her head. “What about you? You also need to rest.”
“I don’t see my nightmares stopping anytime soon, so rest is a foreign term to me.”
“We could call your therapist?”
“Thirteen years of therapy, and I’m still waking up screaming. Either way I don’t think he can help me. I am the only one who can help me.” She yawned. “Can we talk about something else?” Ash reached out to hold her. She held his hands and stopped him. “If you hold me, I’ll fall asleep, and I’m not ready to go toe to toe with my demons yet.”