She looked at him, pondered for a moment, and then smiled.
"No, I just had a nightmare and woke up startled."
"A nightmare?"
Harry Hall turned on the bedside lamp, and only then noticed the traces of tears still on her face.
"What kind of nightmare was so terrifying that it made you cry?"
Harry spoke half-jokingly, half-concernedly.
"As soon as I woke up, I forgot. I only remember it was a very scary dream."
She didn't want to discuss that absurd dream with Harry and didn't want to upset herself further, so she proactively took his arm and steered the conversation elsewhere, saying:
"Next time, when I'm not awake, don't get up either. With you by my side, I won't have nightmares."
Harry loved hearing Helen Melendy say things like this to him, and upon hearing it, a smile naturally spread across his eyes.
"Alright, I'll sleep as long as you sleep from now on."
"Okay."
She nodded, holding onto Harry's hand, and got out of bed.
"Not sleeping anymore?"
