“Ali, it’s okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you, you’re safe,” Alex kept whispering in my ear over and over as he gently rocked me against his chest. I couldn’t stop shaking, or the endless stream of tears coming down my cheeks. No matter how badly I wanted to tell Alex what was wrong; all my words had escaped me. He cradled my head against him, his strong hands holding me tight until finally, my breathing started to settle.
I pulled back slightly, desperately searching for evidence of his injuries. “Are you okay? Please, you have to be okay,” I managed out. My hands ran up and down his bare chest, finding no cuts and no blood, no evidence that any of that had just happened. He was okay. His eyes searched mine, pulling us together once more. The familiar panic lit up his face in the dark.
“
