"Can you imagine it? A lifetime spent on the sidelines, in silence, hoping?"
Her eyes are still downcast, a vague blush is still visible on her cheeks, her voice ready to break.
I know the answer.
"Yeah."
It's true. What else could it be? What else could bring us together?
A boy and a girl, wrapped in darkness, completely alone.
She raises her eyes, and despite the grim atmosphere I want to smile. Her eyes are fantastic.
"I don't want to keep living like that, Kenji. I'm tired of it. I-it's hard, a-and, it's cold, and I..."
And her voice betrays her, causing her words to stumble. As if dreaming, I move forward, my head clear of thoughts, and embrace her.
"You don't have to."
I'm vaguely aware I said these words, and they seem to have a physical effect on our surroundings. I can feel the atmosphere loosening up, as if I can finally breathe.
 
As if she feels the same, and raises her head, her eyes still a little red, and let out a small smile. I let her go, gently, and feel my way towards the power switch. I turn on the light, and blink as I try to grasp my surroundings. The library seems larger than usual. I try to imagine her here, alone, in the dark, crying, gasping for air, drowning beneath the sound of her own thoughts, covered in darkness. As I try to imagine it another image intrudes. A lone boy, alone with his self hatred and the darkness, screaming in silence.
 
It's not pity, that's not the right word.
Sympathy?
 
I move back to her, and feel her arms wrapped around me. Our lips touch briefly, and I feel my heart skipping a beat. Everything seems unreal, like a dream. Time slows to a crawl, but passes far too quickly.
 
Later that night I stand alone, in my room, looking out of my window. Strong wind blows outside, but inside me I feel something new - some sort of peace. As if everything has fallen into place, and I can walk onward and have no fear.
 
A life without fear, what an interesting concept.
 
The wind blows even harder, and I whisper with it.
"You'll never have to be alone. Let us be broken, together."