Her teasing banter cut through his somber mood, prompting a soft chuckle to escape him as he shook his head in disbelief.
He let silence fill the room, feeling her heavy gaze of anticipation on him.
"I lay to sleep and found myself back on the battlefield, the acrid scent of gunpowder filling the air, the sound of cannons thundering in the distance."
His voice quivered slightly as he began to recount the haunting details of the wartime nightmare to Jane.
"Men lay fallen around me, their cries of pain echoing in my ears, unmoving bodies beneath my feet." His voice cracked with emotion as he described the chaos and devastation that surrounded him, painting a vivid picture of the horrors he had witnessed.
As he continued his harrowing tale, his hands trembled imperceptibly, the memories of loss and suffering threatening to engulf him once more, "I saw faces of comrades long gone, their accusing eyes haunting me in the darkness."
His voice wavered “They held unto me… Judging me… Questioning how I got out. Questioning why I got to live while they lost their lives so brutally…”
Jane placed a hand on his. In the midst of the recounting, her gentle touch and soothing presence acted as a lifeline, pulling him back from the brink of his nightmare.
“You’re safe. It’s all over. And it is not your fault, Colin. None of all that happened is.” The warmth of her hand on his arm grounded him in the present, a stark contrast to the harrowing visions that had gripped him moments before.
He gave her a sad smile, and placed a hand over hers. His voice, typically steady and strong, now carried a heavy burden of pain and anguish as he spoke.
"Most of my soldiers, they bear the same scars as me, Jane. The nightmares, they haunt us long after the battles end. Sometimes, I feel like I'm trapped in a never-ending dream, reliving the horrors of war even in waking moments."
"I'm so sorry for everything you've endured, Colin. I know it might be of little help, but I want you to know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Slowly, he brought her hand to his lips, his tone grateful as he breathed words across her skin.
“Thank you, Jane.” The words felt strange on his lips. “I…” He hesitated, “I would like if we could continue to converse till slumber takes us once more. The longer I stay up, the less I…”
She placed a gentle hand over his as he trailed off. With a warm smile, she nodded. “I do not mind. Converse we shall, Your Grace. Till dawn, if needed.”
