our four-year-old had a nightmare [f4m] (Patreon)

i wake up to see lily come in to our bedroom. she is very hesitant and clearly scared; it's clear she just had a nightmare. i lift her up, tuck her in, kiss her forehead, and assure her that with daddy around there's never any monsters. she settles in right between us, calms down, and i sing her to sleep. it doesn't take long. soon she is sleeping soundly, and the second i allow myself to close my eyes again, i do the same.