Her Cry... (Relatively Short Story)

Her Cry…

They spoke to each other. Her voice began to well up with emotion. He could not see her face; only in his mind. He heard her sadness from a world away.  He did his best to slip in a little bit of happiness into the conversation wherever he could. They continued talking about the stresses she was experiencing. Each tale of misfortune spun, the further his heart sank. He wished that he could be there, a world away, with her; just to bring the gifts of comfort and understanding, to be a pillar that she would lean against for support. He thought heavily to himself, “She was strong, but who… Who can be strong always? Never resting, never letting up, and never weakening. Who?” They continued. She grew sadder each minute that passed. He could hear her… Her voice, her breath, her sighs… Every little hint and whisper. He could sense she was at her breaking point. He was scared. He heard her tears. Exhausted, not able to bottle up her emotion any longer; she began to cry. She cried to him, “I miss you so much”. He wouldn’t cry with her that night. He couldn’t. Her cry. It terrified him. He was in shock. Frozen. He felt unable to do anything. Inadequate. Insufficient. Laughable. He felt Useless. Being a world away, he was unable to shield her from her own tears, no comfort could he bring. He asked her something. She didn’t answer. He asked her again. She quietly replied. He played this question a little bit, “What? I didn’t hear you. My hearing is off in this ear. What?” She played along with him. Each time she answered her reply grew slightly louder. The final time she answered, he heard a giggle poke from her tears. He finally affirmed that he had heard her reply. He pictured her in his mind; her face still wet from the tears. A smile. He saw a smile on her face in his mind. It was such a beautiful sight to think. Her Smile.