Chapter 10

Hugh tossed and turned in his sleep. In his dream, he was pulled back into those dark, empty, painful moments from his past, but this time, the person who had once quietly been there for him was gone. "Kel..." he mumbled, his face twisting in agony. Caught in the nightmare, Hugh's chest rose and fell in uneven breaths. In the dream, he reached out desperately, searching for the person who should've been there. But no matter how many times he called, there was nothing but silence. A sharp jolt of fear yanked him from his sleep, his eyes snapping open. Sweat clung to his forehead. The blackout curtains were drawn tight, and for a moment, he couldn't tell if he was still trapped in the nightmare. Hugh sat up, his voice trembling. "Kel?" Nothing. He called out again, "Kel!" Still nothing. Hugh staggered out of bed, almost losing his balance as he reached for the light. The moment the room came into focus, he let out a relieved breath. The nightmare's hold began to fade, and he rub