For two nights in a row, Bella’s sleep had been plagued by nightmares.

The first night, Leo had held her as she sobbed, her body trembling against his. He had whispered reassurances, stroked her hair, and waited until her breathing steadied and she drifted back to sleep. He had told himself it was just a bad dream, something that would pass.

But the second night was worse.

She woke up screaming.

Leo shot upright, his heart racing, his hand already reaching for her. Bella was sitting bolt upright, her fingers clutching the sheets, her eyes wide and unfocused. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Leo grabbed her shoulders, his voice urgent. "Bella! Look at me. You’re safe. You’re home. It was just a dream."

She blinked, her gaze slowly finding his face. Her breathing began to slow but her hands were still trembling.

Bella whispered, her voice barely audible, fragile and broken. "Leo, I—I don’t—"

Leo pulled her into his arms, holding her close, his hand stroking her hair. His voice was low and soothing. "Shh. It’s okay. I’ve got you."

She clung to him, her face buried in his chest, her tears soaking through his shirt.

After a long moment, her breathing evened out. She pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

Bella said, her voice small and fragile. "I’m sorry. I keep waking you up."

Leo said firmly but gently. "Don’t apologize. What were you dreaming about?"

Bella shook her head, her voice trembling. "I don’t know. It’s just... dark. And cold. And I’m alone." She paused, her brow furrowing. "And you’re there, but you’re not... you. You’re cold. You leave me."

Leo’s jaw tightened.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

The next morning, after Bella had gone to the hospital to visit Dominique, Leo made a call.

He contacted Bella’s doctor—the same one who knew her history and understood the little space she had retreated to before. But the doctor was out of state, attending a conference.

The doctor said, his voice apologetic. "I’m sorry, Mr. Moretti. I won’t be back for another week. But I can recommend a colleague—a specialist in trauma-related nightmares and anxiety. He’s excellent. I’ll send you his contact information."

Leo thanked him and hung up.

Within minutes, he had the number.

He called immediately.

Dr. Vance answered on the second ring. "Dr. Vance speaking."

Leo said, his voice steady but urgent. "This is Leonardo Moretti. I was given your number by Dr. Harper. I need your help with my wife."

Dr. Vance replied calmly. "Of course. How can I help?"

Leo explained the situation—the nightmares, Bella’s history, the trauma she had endured as a child, the little space she had retreated to before.

Dr. Vance listened without interrupting.

Dr. Vance said thoughtfully when Leo finished. "I see. These nightmares—can you describe them? What does she see? What does she feel?"

Leo paused, his voice low. "She said it’s dark...Cold..She’s alone..and I’m there, but I’m not myself. I’m cold. I leave her."

Dr. Vance said slowly. "That sounds like a recurring theme of abandonment and fear. It’s common in trauma survivors, especially when triggered by stress or significant emotional events."

Leo was silent for a moment, then asked. "What can I do?"

Dr. Vance spoke carefully. "First, I need to understand the root cause. These nightmares aren’t random. They’re connected to something deeper—something she hasn’t fully processed."

He continued. "Ideally, I would need to speak with her directly. But based on what you’ve told me—the childhood trauma, the feeling of abandonment—I suspect she’s experiencing a delayed reaction to recent events. The mind sometimes waits until we feel safe before it allows us to process what we’ve suppressed."

Leo asked, his voice thoughtful. "So these nightmares are... her mind trying to heal?"

Dr. Vance said, his tone measured. "Partially. But it’s also a sign that she’s feeling overwhelmed. Her subconscious is trying to tell her something. The coldness, the darkness, the feeling of being left behind—these are echoes of past experiences. And right now, they’re being triggered by something current."

Leo asked slowly, "So... this is connected to severe stress? And the fear of losing someone she loves??"

Dr. Vance agreed. "That’s exactly what I’m thinking. It could be a combination of factors."

Leo thought about it. Bella had always been strong. She had always pushed through, refused to show weakness. But maybe that was the problem. Maybe she was holding too much inside. Maybe she was worried about what happened to Dominique.

Leo asked. "Is there a solution?"

Dr. Vance answered carefully. "There’s no quick fix. But there are steps we can take. First, she needs to feel safe—safe enough to let go of the fear she’s been carrying. That means consistent reassurance from you—not just words, but actions. Showing up. Staying present. Proving that you’re not going to leave."

Leo nodded, his voice resolute. "I already do that."

Dr. Vance said gently. "Keep doing it and be patient. These things take time."

Leo pressed. "What else?"

Dr. Vance said thoughtfully. "Ideally, she should come in for a session. I’d like to talk to her directly, help her identify the triggers and work through them. In the meantime, I can recommend techniques she can practice on her own. Deep breathing..Grounding exercises... Journaling...Writing down what she feels can be a powerful way to process emotions, especially for people who struggle to express themselves verbally."

Leo asked. "And the nightmares themselves? Is there anything she can do when she wakes up?"

Dr. Vance said, his voice reassuring. "Yes. When she wakes up, she should remind herself that she’s safe. She can look around the room, name things she can see, touch, hear, smell. That helps ground her in the present moment and she should talk to you about it, even if it’s hard. Holding it in only makes it worse."

Leo nodded slowly. "I understand. I’ll make sure she comes in for a session."

Dr. Vance’s voice was warm and reassuring. "She’s going to be okay, Mr. Moretti. She has you. That’s already a huge step in the right direction."

Leo hung up and stared at the wall of his study.