The Sleepless Chapter

Everything was fine just a few hours ago.
Everything was always fine hours ago. It happened every night. There was nothing I could do to control it. The weight of simply being was much too heavy for her. All I could do was wait. That's what I was doing.

The room was colder than usual. I pressed the small space heater on with my foot and shifted her in my arms to get my hand free. I pulled the old fleece blanket up over both of our feet, leaning back against the couch.
Don't get to comfortable. You have to stay awake. 
I shook my head. My eyes were screaming at me to sleep, but I wouldn't. Not for another few hours.
We sat there on the floor, me with my legs straight out in front of me, and her laying sideways, her head on my lap. I brushed the brown hair out of her eyes, letting my finger trace the side of her face. I knew she could feel it. Even if she wasn't responding, she could feel it.
I let my hand rest at the top of her chest. This way, I could feel her breathing, could keep track of how often the air entered her lungs. That was important. I sat in silence, staring off at the wall for minutes at a time. After a bit, my hand stopped going up and down with her chest.
I shook her.
"Wake up. Wake up," I muttered fervently, shaking her body, but keeping her head as still as I could.
"You have to wake up. Breathe, damnit." I patted the side of her face several times before her mouth opened, and she gasped, letting her breathing regain its rhythm.
Is this worth it?
I sighed heavily, and leaned back against the couch again, holding her close. Of course it was worth it. She was a human being, wasn't she? Even if I didn't care for her at all (I cared deeply) I would have done the same. I liked to think so at least.
 My legs were going numb from the hard basement floor. I assumed she was getting just as uncomfortable. With all the strength I could muster, I picked up her limp body and carried her to the couch, laying her down with the blanket on top of her, regaining my position holding her head. I let my back settle into the cushions of the couch. This was better. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked up into mine.
"Hey you," I whispered, smiling weakly down at her.
"Aren't you tired?" She asked, her eyes barely staying open.
I smiled back at her best I could. "No. No, I'm fine. Go back to sleep, okay?"
Her eyes closed again, and I laid my head back, holding her tight to me.
I can do this. Just an hour or so more. I can do it.
And I knew I could. I would be damn tired the next day, but I'd be fine. I was getting used to the sleepless nights. Whatever it was doing to drain me, it was far less significant than the burdens she'd been carrying. She needed someone to carry her now. She needed me.