In the heart of a bustling city that never quite slept, the lights of downtown flickered through the curtains of an upscale hotel room. The hum of air conditioning mixed with the distant echoes of nightlife, a stark contrast to the serenity of the room. Inside, Jey Uso, one of WWE's top superstars, was fast asleep. His muscular frame was relaxed, and the soft rise and fall of his chest marked a peaceful slumber.

But the tranquility was abruptly shattered when Lelani, his girlfriend, jolted awake. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her heart pounding as if it might escape her chest. The nightmare had been vivid and relentless, dragging her back into a past she had tried to leave behind.

She sat up in bed, her eyes darting around the dimly lit room, searching for something to ground her in reality. Her fingers clenched the edge of the blanket, her knuckles white. She had always been strong, her past had shaped her into a person who faced challenges head-on, but nightmares had a way of dismantling her resolve.

Jey stirred beside her, his eyes blinking open in the darkness. "Lelani?" His voice was groggy, thick with sleep, but laced with concern as he reached out to her. "What's wrong?"

She took a shaky breath, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I—I had a nightmare. Can you hold me?"

Without hesitation, Jey shifted to her side, pulling her into his arms. His embrace was warm and solid, a stark contrast to the cold sweat on her skin. He wrapped his arms around her, his strong presence a fortress against the shadows of her fears.

"It's okay, baby. You're safe," he murmured into her hair, his voice a soothing balm. "Tell me about it. What happened in the dream?"

Lelani buried her face into his chest, drawing comfort from the steady beat of his heart. She took a few moments to collect her thoughts, her fingers absently tracing patterns on his arm.

"It was so real," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was back in that old neighborhood. The one we left behind years ago."

Jey nodded, listening intently. He had heard pieces of her past before but had never delved deeply into it. "What was happening in the dream?"

She hesitated, her eyes focusing on the darkness of the room as she recalled the details. "I was walking through those streets, and they were just as they used to be. The same old houses, the same cracked sidewalks. But there was something different. It was like the past had come alive, and I couldn't escape it."

Jey gently stroked her hair, encouraging her to continue. "What was chasing you?"

Lelani shivered at the memory. "It was like... shadows of people from my past. Faces I tried to forget. They were accusing me, blaming me for things that weren't my fault."

"Shadows?" Jey's brow furrowed as he tried to piece together the fragments of her dream. "What were they saying to you?"

"They were telling me that I abandoned them," she said, her voice cracking as she fought back tears. "That I turned my back on them when I moved on, that I left them behind. I couldn't defend myself because I was stuck in that place."

Jey held her tighter, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "You know that's not true, right? You did what you had to do to move forward. Sometimes the past tries to pull us back, but it's up to us to keep moving forward."

She sighed against him, her fingers clutching at the fabric of his shirt. "I know, but the dream felt so real. It's like my past was accusing me for everything I left behind, and I couldn't escape."

Jey rubbed her back soothingly, the rhythmic motion designed to calm her nerves. "Dreams can be cruel like that. They take our fears and magnify them. But remember, dreams aren't reality. You're not that person anymore. You're here with me, and we're building something new together."

His words were like a gentle tide, washing away the remnants of her fear. "It's just hard sometimes," she admitted softly. "I thought I was past it, but the dream made me feel like I was back there, trapped."

"It's okay to feel that way," Jey said, his voice firm yet tender. "It's okay to have those moments. What matters is how you face them. And you're not alone in this. I'm here with you."

Lelani looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the faint light from the city outside. "Thank you, Jey. I don't know what I'd do without you."

He smiled gently, his thumb brushing away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "You don't have to find out. I'm not going anywhere."

She smiled faintly, comforted by his presence. "Do you want to hear more about the past? I've never really talked about it much."

Jey nodded, his eyes attentive. "If you're ready to share, I'm here to listen."

Lelani took a deep breath, her eyes drifting back to the shadows that seemed to linger on the edges of her memories. "When I was younger, I had a family that wasn't the best for me. There was a lot of anger, a lot of pain. I left to get away from that life, to find something better. But sometimes, the past finds ways to follow us, doesn't it?"

"It does," Jey agreed. "But it doesn't have to define who we are now. You made choices for your own well-being, and that's something to be proud of."

"I know," Lelani said, her voice steadier now. "But it's hard to shake off the guilt of leaving people behind, even if they were toxic for me."

"You did what you had to do," Jey repeated, his tone firm. "You didn't abandon them. You chose to move forward and create a better life for yourself. It's not your fault they couldn't change with you."

"Sometimes I wonder if they ever think about me," she said quietly. "If they regret the way things ended."

"Maybe they do," Jey said thoughtfully. "But you can't control that. What matters is what you do with your own life. You're here now, with people who care about you, and that's what counts."

Lelani took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her past slowly lifting as she spoke. "It's hard to remember that sometimes. Especially when nightmares like this come back."

Jey held her close, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of her thoughts. "You're strong, Lelani. You've overcome so much already. These nightmares are just echoes from a past that no longer holds you. You've got a future that's full of promise and love."

She nodded, her fingers entwining with his. "Thank you for being so patient with me. I'm sorry for waking you up in the middle of the night."

He shook his head, his eyes soft and full of understanding. "Don't apologize. I'm here for you, no matter the time. We'll get through this together."

They lay there in the darkness, the city lights casting a faint glow through the curtains. The quiet of the night surrounded them, a peaceful cocoon where the past's shadows could not reach. Jey continued to hold her, his steady heartbeat a reminder of the present, of the life they were building together.

"Do you want to talk more about the past or just stay like this for a while?" Jey asked gently.

Lelani took another deep breath, feeling the last remnants of her fear melting away. "I think I just want to be here with you for now. We can talk more about it another time."

"That sounds good," Jey said, his arms tightening around her in a protective embrace. "Whenever you're ready, I'll be here to listen."

They stayed like that for a while, the comforting silence between them filled with the unspoken promise of support and love. The nightmare's grip began to loosen as Lelani nestled closer to Jey, her worries and fears fading into the warmth of his embrace.

In the midst of the city's endless hum, in the stillness of the night, they found solace in each other. And as sleep gradually began to reclaim them, the shadows of the past receded, leaving behind the hopeful promise of a future together.