The Best Hugs

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He could hear so many sounds. He could hear the tanks rolling, their treads crunching gravel. He looked up and saw his friend. She stood her ground, carbine in hand, aimed to shoot at the advancing enemies. Enemies… everybody's an enemy now. He could hear the crunching of the gravel beneath her feet. He wished he was there for her.

He was crouched behind the barricade they had built. His friend was standing ready to shoot. The tank was getting closer, he ignored it.

He shouldn’t have ignored it.

His heart was thumping. The drum-like beat in his ears was so loud, he couldn’t hear anything. He couldn’t see, he couldn’t hear. He was helpless.

A man from the tank threw a bomb that activated right next to her. He was at a safe enough distance, where he watched her get blown to pieces.

“NO!” he screamed.

It was dark when he opened his eyes. He was sweating and scared. He didn’t like being alone.

He heard a tiny squeak from the bedroom door.

“Dad?” said a tiny voice.

It was his son, Oliver.

“Are you okay? I heard you scream,” his son continued.

He sat up, and looked towards the small boy. Oliver was standing in the moonlight, his blue blanket wrapped around his shoulders, his black hair covered his eyes. He looked so innocent, knowing nothing about the horrors out there.

“I’m okay, Oli,” he could hear his voice crack as he spoke.

“Are you sure? Do you want a hug?” asked Oliver.

“I’m fine, Oli, you should go back to bed.”

“But you’re crying, Daddy,” said Oliver, his tone soft.

He touched his face. He really was crying. He didn’t realize how much that dream affected him. He’d been having the same one more and more often, night after night.

“I think you need a hug. Mommy always says that I give the best hugs!” Oliver exclaimed.

At the mention of his wife, he gave a small smile. His wife does have a way with children.

“Does she now?”

“Yes! Now shush!” Oliver exclaimed, putting a finger to his lips.

He chuckled as Oliver leaped towards him, wrapping them both with his blue blanket.

He knew that Oliver didn’t understand why he had a nightmare, but he felt better knowing that he wasn’t alone anymore. He smiled under the moonlight with his son’s arms around him.

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Published November 13, 2020

Written by Abinaya Balaji ~ Edited by Alex Truong