"I've got you," Matteo said urgently, one hand cradling the back of Adrian's head while the other rubbed soothing circles over his trembling back. "I've got you, baby. Breathe… slowly. I'm right here."
He gently cupped Adrian's face, forcing him to meet his eyes.
"Look at me," he whispered, his voice shaking with worry. "It was just a nightmare. You're safe. I'm right here with you."
Adrian clung to Matteo as though he were the only thing keeping him alive. His fingers twisted tightly into Matteo's shirt as violent sobs shook his entire body.
Every breath came in broken, desperate gasps. The nightmare still felt terrifyingly real, the freezing darkness, the suffocating silence, and the horrifying feeling of dying alone.
