It Happened Last Night

Last night, I couldn't sleep and decided to go downstairs for some water. As I walked past the bedroom where my wife was sleeping, I heard her whisper something in her sleep. She said a man's name, not mine. And that wasn’t all she said. I froze, wondering if I should wake her up or just leave it be. But as soon as I had this thought, I felt guilty. Why would I feel so terrible about something she did while sleeping? It’s not like she was cheating on me with her mind. Yet there I stood, feeling like a stranger in my own home. I poured myself some water and sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window into the dark night sky. The silence of the house seemed to amplify every little sound. My heart raced as I thought about what she might have been dreaming about. Maybe it was just a nightmare or a random thought that got stuck in her head. But the words lingered like an open wound. I tried to distract myself by scrolling through my phone, but all I could think about was going back and checking on her. Was she still whispering? Would she be upset if I woke her up now? By the time morning came around, I felt exhausted from not sleeping well at all. But at least the sun was out, which meant I had a distraction for the day ahead of me. And yet, as I made my way to work this morning, I couldn’t shake off that feeling of guilt and confusion. It’s weird how something so small can leave such a big impact.