For just a moment, snuggling against Besca in that brief hug, everything really did seem okay. And maybe even like it'd [i]be[/i] okay.

Then the hug ended, and the world came rushing back, with all the associated aches and pains. She wasn't incredibly nauseous anymore, but she certainly didn't feel [i]good.[/i] Her headache had abated and being around Besca really did help to distract her, but it still thrummed cloyingly against the back of her skull. And the physical pain was only half the battle, really. If even that.

But she nodded, seeming almost [i]solemn[/i] by the look on her face. But then, it wasn't uncommon these days for that drawn look to be present. "[color=ffe63d]Y—yeah. I feel...better.[/color]"

After a moment, she left Besca's side, retrieved the milk from the fridge, and sat down, though she pulled her chair much closer so she could still lean against Besca as she did so. Her pouring of the cereal was a bit clumsier than is usually would be, and she blinked blearily again and let her mind go slack as she began to spoon the cereal into her mouth. Though it didn't show, a brief, dim glow of happiness lit her up. It was her favorite.

Then, as she stared off into space and her eyelid dropped a bit lower, her thoughts wandered back to last night, or...whenever it was, and what preceded her brief moment of wakefulness. Without really realizing it she dropped her head slightly, face turning downcast as she thought. She didn't remember much of it at all, which was a mercy. But what she [i]did[/i] remember was the feeling of blissful peace that was painfully shattered. She paused a moment before she spoke. She'd never really talked about her dreams with Besca, largely because of the shame attached to Safie. But...it was okay to talk to her, right? And, as the pressure of the memory built, Quinn needed to talk to [i]someone.[/i]

Her voice, when she finally broke the silence, was quiet and tremulous, almost indistinct. 

[sub]"[color=ffe63d]...hdabddrimlassnht...[/color]"[/sub]

Then, realizing that even she could barely understand that, she took a deep breath and tried again.

"[color=ffe63d]...I had a bad dream last night.[/color]"

She was quiet again, looking down at the bowl of cereal like it held the answer to everything and biting her lip.  A lump was starting to form in her throat, and it was evident in her voice as she pulled herself inward, dropping the spoon with a [i]clink.[/i]

"[color=ffe63d]...I don't remember much of it. But...[/color]" she shuddered as she recalled an echo of that empty calm, "[color=ffe63d]...everything was..was so dark. So dark and quiet and...peaceful.[/color]" She screwed her eye shut. "[color=ffe63d]It was like...like nothing could hurt me. Then...[/color]" An image leapt to her mind then, the vague blur of Besca's face. "[color=ffe63d]You...you were there, I saw you. But...[/color]" 

A tidal wave of shame rushed through her, and her right hand resting on the table clenched into a tight white fist. She opened her mouth, but the words stuck in her throat. She shoved the bowl out of the way, ignoring the half-eaten cereal as she dropped her face into the crook of her arm. It took several seconds and a great deal of effort for her to finally choke out through the guilt and shame, "[color=ffe63d]...But I--I wished...I wished you weren't.[/color]"

Her voice shrank to a tiny hoarse whisper, almost inaudible through her arm,

[sub][i]"[color=ffe63d]I'm sorry.[/color]"[/i][/sub]