Nightmares

Isla: Hey, Wes, you up?

Isla: Wesley?

Isla: Wes, please, wake up 😣

Wesley: Hey, sorry, babe. What's wrong?

Isla: It happened again.

Wesley: The nightmares?

Isla: It was different this time. I was drowning. I looked down and there was a chain on my ankle. It dragged me to the bottom, Wes. It all happened so fast and then everything turned white. I woke up sweating, crying, screaming...

Isla: Can I please come over? I know it's late... I'm sorry...

Wesley: Of course, baby.

Isla: Thank you. I love you.

Wesley: I love you too, baby. See you in ten?

Isla: Okay.

*Thiry minutes later*

Wesley: Isla? Where are you? I'm getting worried.

Wesley: Isla??

Wesley: Baby, please answer...

Wesley: Isla, please!

*The next morning*

Isla: Wesley, I'm sorry... I tried to keep it together. I really did, but I started crying in the car, and I know how you worry about my panic attacks so I stopped at the pond, but I accidentally fell asleep. I'm really sorry, Wes. Please, don't be mad at me.

Wesley: Baby, don't worry, I'm not mad at you. I just wish I could've held you last night. I don't like being so far from you when you have your nightmares.

Isla: I know. I'm sorry.

*Later that night*

Isla: Wesley, I don't feel so good...

Wesley: What's wrong? Do you need me to come pick you up?

Isla: No!

Wesley: Isla, what did you do?!

Isla: Wes, I feel sleepy.

Isla: Wes... the room is spinning... I see red...

Isla: Lihtgs.... fadignn.... so tired... Goodnight, Wesley.

Wesley: Dammit, Isla, don't you dare fall asleep on me again!!!

Wesley: Isla!!!

Isla: *phone ringing*

No one answered.

*The next day*

Isla: ...Where am I?

Wesley: Hospital.

Isla looked down at her wrists and saw the fresh bandages. With an empty expression, she looked back up at Wes, who had a single tear running down his cheek.

Isla didn't say anything, but her eyes were filled with sadness. The two sat in silence, for this had happened twice before. Isla didn't want to go through the routine of apologies, and Wesley didn't want to listen to them anyway.

*A week after Isla was released from the hospital*

Isla: *Voicemail* "Isla, it's Wes again. Please talk to me. I'm not mad at you. I miss you. Please call me back... I love you..."

Isla: Wes?

Wesley: Oh, baby, hi, how are you feeling? I've missed you so much!

Isla: I'm okay.

Isla: Listen, Wes...I don't think I can do this anymore...

Wesley: What are you talking about??

Isla: I can't be with you anymore.

Wesley: What?? Why? Can we talk about this? We always work things out!! Please, Isla, let's just talk about this! All I've ever done is love you... I don't understand!

Isla: That's the problem, Wesley! I weigh you down. I don't deserve you. Don't you get it? Doctors can't fix me, Wes. I'm not happy.

Wesley: Aren't you happy with me?

Isla: When I'm with you, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, but happiness? I can't feel that, Wes. You know that.

Wesley: This is all my fault, isn't it? If I had just driven to the pond that night. I knew you were there. You're always there. I wanted to hold you and tell you it would be okay. I needed to be there for you and I wasn't... I'm so sorry, Isla...

Isla: Wes, it's not your fault. You're perfect. You're beyond perfect. Like I said, I don't deserve you. I put you through hell, Wes! Please understand, I'm trying to protect you. I will never be happy. I don't want to live. I can't put you through this anymore! I'm sorry, Wes, I love you. Goodbye.

*Call disconnected*

Following the breakup, Wesley lost himself to alcohol, spending all day and all night in his little apartment, which hasn't seen the light of day in weeks.

Isla was the only thing that made him happy.

Little did Isla know, Wesley, too, had clinical depression.

His parents divorced two years before, and his little brother was involved in a fatal car accident soon after.

He never told Isla.

Isla's depression came from years of being bullied in school, which led her to look at herself like she's nothing, like she didn't matter. She hated herself. Wesley knew this, although he thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

Since Wesley knew that Isla's mental state was so fragile, he never bothered to tell her about his life.

He kept his pill bottles hidden away, and the times he spent "going to the gym," he actually spent in therapy.

Little did Isla know, Wesley often experienced nightmares too, but he never bothered to tell her.

When Isla was finally feeling better, she decided to pull out the box of things belonging to Wesley.

She carefully looked through photos and letters, held the beautiful opal necklace engraved with a "W" that Wesley got her for Christmas one year, and finally picked up one of Wes's sweatshirts.

In the pocket, she felt a piece of paper, a paper she had never seen before.

It was a letter.

It read:

"Dear my beloved Isla, I know you think you don't belong in this world anymore. I know the nightmares are getting stronger, and that as much as they scare you, you wish they were real. Isla, I want you to know I'm sad, too. I've never talked about it with anyone, especially you. I felt like a burden. I knew how much pain you felt and I didn't want to hurt you even more with my pain. I need you to know I stayed strong for you. I didn't want you to feel the same way I do, but I couldn't help you, and I'm so sorry for that. I couldn't save you. You wouldn't believe how many times I cried myself to sleep because I felt like I wasn't good enough. I let you down. I let you slip away from me. I deserve it. I wasn't enough. I'm sorry, Isla. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I guess I don't have to be strong anymore. I'm sorry. Goodbye, Isla." ~W

Isla: Wesley, pick up the phone!!

Isla: Wes, please pick up!!

Isla: Wes!

Isla: WES!!!

Isla: God, please, no!

Isla: Wesley, I'm so sorry!!!

Isla: Please, don't do this!!

Isla got into her car and drove as fast as she could to Wesley's apartment.

She ran upstairs and found Wesley lying on the bathroom floor, with an empty pill bottle next to him, and a glass of vodka on the counter.

Isla: Wesley, please wake up! 😰

She felt for a pulse and immediately after, she started the shower and poured cold water over Wesley's face.

When she realized the water was no help, she knew she had to make him throw up the pills.

After only 45 seconds of what seemed like forever, Wesley regained consciousness, and Isla took him into her arms, like she should have done a long time ago.

Isla: Wesley? I love you. And I'm never leaving you again. I know now that although I'm sad a lot of the time, being with you is what truly makes me happy. Promise me you'll never leave me.

Wesley: I promise.

Wesley's promise was fulfilled, for he and Isla grew old together, finding happiness in their six children and sixteen grandchildren, but most importantly, they found true joy within each other.