I feel asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

That night, I dreamed that I was in Atlas’ position and James was having sex with me. It was an odd feeling since I had never seen James before in my life. I rarely have sex dreams anymore. I actually kind of miss them.

I awoke to a blinding, artificial light shining in my face.

“I’m just doing checks, Margo.”

Responded who I assumed was the night-shift nurse.

I lazily gazed across the room at a sleeping Atlas.

He was oddly peaceful in sleep. I assume everyone was really, but with him, it was a vast change. I gazed up at the window before I lied back down

I must have dozed off because the last thing I remember is seeing Atlas peacefully asleep in his bed. But now, Atlas is at the foot of my bed staring down at me in the darkness.

“What the hell?”

I screamed,

“You saw me… didn’t you?”

Asked Atlas, sounding like he was on the verge of tears.

I hesitated a few seconds before speaking.

“Yeah… I did…”

“Did you tell anyone?”

“Of course not!”

I lie.

Atlas plops down onto the end of my bed, relieved.

“I figured because you were the ‘new girl’ that you would have told everybody.”

“I’m not that kind of person.”

“Good.”

After a few seconds of silence, Atlas began to cry with his head in his hand.

“You okay?”

I ask, obviously knowing the answer is no.

“It’s just… If Ida finds out, me and James’ heads are on the chopping block.

“She’ll find out eventually. I have a feeling she will.”

“That’s not very helpful.”

“I’m just being realistic. That is what we all need right now, a good-ass reality check.”

“I guess…”

Just as Atlas wiped his eyes with the long sleeve of his shirt, a night nurse opened the door to do her checks.

“Get off her bed Atlas.”

Barked the nurse.

“If I do, will you fuck off?”

Screamed Atlas with his back facing the nurse so she couldn’t see that he was crying.

The nurse sighed.

“Just do what I say, Atlas. You already cause enough trouble.”

Atlas sprang up from my mattress and stomped over to his bed and wrapped himself in the thin sheet in anger.

“There! You happy?”

Barked Atlas at the nurse.

The nurse closed the door.

“I guess we should get to sleep, Goodnight Atlas.”

“Goodnight… Margo.”