Her Hero by Helen McNeil Read Free Book Online Page B

your profession. Life is too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t feed your soul. Let me help you.”
                  The last few years flashed through Stacy's mind. The dread every Sunday night. The wishing her life away as she clock watched.  The contentment of doodling and the elation on completing a story board.
                  She thought of all the characters she had developed in her pad. The town and the story lines she had, just waiting.
                  Waiting for what? Herself to draw them and then for those designs to sit unseen in a cardboard box in her latest bedsit.
                  It was as if her life and meaning had collided when she met Horatius and with it a sense of validation. For the first time Stacy felt a part of life and not just an observer.
                  Throwing caution to the wind she threw her arms around his neck. Kissing him furiously. She covered his face slowing as she gravitated like a magnet to his lips.
     
    ***
                 
    Horatius woke with a start. Stacy’s hair lay across his chest and for a second he felt relief and soul deep happiness fill him. Until his peace was disturbed by a bone chilling scream. Stacy practically leapt up before petering down, followed by a whimper. Immediately he reached for her but her silken skin slipped as she writhed in anguish, kicking him with impressive force and forcing him out of the bed.
                  He rushed to her side imploring her to wake. Her fear and heart became his. With his heart in his mouth he soothed her for endless moments, until her thrashing subsided and all that was left was a ball of sobs.
                  As he stroked her she woke with a shattered and broken expression. He was undone. He would give his entire fortune to take that look from her features.
                  “Stacy. It’s okay. Your safe.”
                  She came around slowly. Sitting up, he joined her once again. He wiped her hair back from where it clung to her sweat covered neck and watched as her breathing regulated.
                  He cursed his uncaring member as it rose to the memory of her rasping breath. The memory of just hours ago were hard to wipe away but he forced himself to focus on her needs.
                  Taking her hand he absently stroked it. They sat in silence until he felt she had recovered.
                  “Does that happen a lot?” Stacy simply nodded and clung tighter to the covers.
                  “Do you want to tell me what it’s about?” Horatius felt it was imperative she speak about her terrors.
                  He recalled the doctor’s analysis and his subsequent research on post traumatic stress. Right now her recollections were limited to sleep. But how long would it be before she lived her nightmare whilst awake. Perhaps injuring herself or others. No he couldn’t let that happen, he knew, pressing her to open up.
                  “I just remember bit’s of the crash.”
                  “You were there? You didn’t tell me.”
                  “No need, I lived.” She pulled away slightly but he simply moved closer and wrapped his arm around her until she lay with her head against his chest.
                  She felt right there and Horatius knew there was no going back for him.
                  “Tell me what happened. Please.” She seemed to hesitate at his request but after nuzzling further into his locked arms she began.
                  “It’s the same nightmare. I remember, we’re overturned. I think another car hits us. I don’t know. It’s all a bit hazy.”
                  “Yes the accident reported three cars. The car behind couldn’t stop on time. He lived, minor scratches.” At his words she swiveled round