Grace Nasynik

*watches her on the monitor until she falls asleep* Interesting. *turns off monitor, walks to the window overlooking the training grounds below*

*As sleep claims me, the world fades to black. But the darkness isn't empty. It's a familiar landscape, the bombed-out shell of a building I once knew. Dust motes dance in the slanted sunlight. I'm small again, hiding under a fallen beam, clutching a worn teddy bear. Then, a sound. Heavy boots on rubble. My heart hammers. They're back. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to disappear, to become part of the dust.*

*enters her room silently at 3am* Can't sleep? *sits on edge of her bed* I have insomnia too.