Needing to Heal

'These tears... I hear them... Every night...'

Quietly, I placed a soft hoof onto the door, wishing that somehow this small act could be of some support to him. Hoping silently that this mysterious display of comfort, known only by me, would stop his loud wails. I frowned when I heard his loud reply, his cries freezing my gentle, warm heart. Of course he wouldn't notice my presence on the other side, he never did.

"Please," I begged, "no more tears."

I couldn't help but think how ironic this situation was. As loud as he was bragging, crying out that he was an all powerful being, and would put on a brave face, only to fall when alone. He was boisterous, almost as if they were trying to show off, screaming how good he was; or was it that he, again, was trying to get the world's attention? Whether they were happy cries of joy, or despair wails of unknown reason, he never failed to grab somepony's ear, and for that reason, I couldn't help but feel he was crying out to me.

'Help me! Is that what your tears are saying? Are you crying out to me?'

Like every night, the louder his cries became, the more I would back away. How could someone as quiet, weak, and nervous as me ever find the right words? How could I stop his painful tears? Like every night, I did all my mind would tell me to do. Stand, listen, and pray.

'Do you know I'm out here? Do you really cry this loud because you think no one can hear? Are you hoping for somepony to come?'

My thoughts would never reach the hurting beast, and again, I pulled back as the noise inside his room boomed. It frightened me.

'Such pain, and for what? I don't even know.'

I sighed as realization hit me dead on.

'The others don't even know that you're hurting...'

I cringed as my mind again spoke in routine.

'Hold back, he will come to you when he's ready. When he wants to talk, he will come. So, just stay quiet and let him cry out in pain.'

'Why do you cry?'

I asked myself, hoping somehow his answer would come to me.

'Why during the day do you hold everything back and smile? Grin with everypony and laugh with us? Why do all that with them, but cry to me? You know I won't come.'

Violet eyes traveled slowly from the floor all the way to the back to the door, biting my lip back as I stared straight at the caged noise.

'Is it because of what happened with Tirek?'

Bringing my pale, soft hoof back to rub at the door, I continued with my silent thoughts.

'Is it because you turned your back on everypony?'

Just as quick, his old words played in my mind. The ones he had spoken long ago when he found out the true meaning of friendship.

"Tirek tricked me into believing that he could offer me something more valuable than friendship. But there is nothing worth more, I see that now. He lied when he said that this medallion was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of our true friendship, I am telling the truth."

Feeling my eyes begin to water as well, I quickly threw my head down, trying hard to hide the tears from no one as I listened to his own. How in character we both were, his tears loud and my hidden... reserved... quiet... just like my mind told me to cry. It told me how to act.

'My friend is hurting, and I can't even help...'

Pursing my lips, I tried desperately to keep my own burning drops in. Though my mind told me to hold back, I couldn't help but also listen to the little voice inside my heart. Each cry, each dropping tear, each choke and sniffle was like a stab to my heart. It was crying out to me. Telling me I was in pain, screaming at me to stop his pain before it too broke me.

'Help him, so you can help yourself! It hurts both of us!

My heart was pounding and my mind spoke back.

'Just wait. When he wants to talk he'll call for you, he'll let you know when the time is right. So just stay for now.'

'Forgiveness… Is that what you want? Do you wish to be forgiven because of what happened?'

'Help him!'

'Stay.'

'What would I say? I can't help him...'

Again, I was answered with a dreadful howl of his; my heart crying out one last time.

'It hurts…!'

'That's right, it hurts. But… It hurts him more.'

Blinking my tears away, my mind was beginning to agree with my heart.

'My friend… He's in trouble, he needs my help. He's crying out to me.'

Slowly raising my eyes back up, I stared determinedly towards the door.

'He will smile to everyone, but cry only to me because… I'm his friend! The only one who can help him, the only one he will cry to!'

'Help me…!'

'Right, I can hear it. I can hear that cry, a friend's cry!'

Barging dramatically into the room wasn't truly my character, but neither were his tears.

'A friend's hug, you never experienced one of those either.'

Quickly turning the knob, I threw myself into the room. Flushing lightly at my bold action as I stood tall in the room. My heart sank as I took in the scene in front of me. It was exactly what I expected, but at the same time dreaded to ever see. My close friend was sitting on the bed in despair. The strange friend, who had influenced me so much, who was stranger than anyone I ever knew, was shedding painful tears. I watched as his yellow eyes moved slowly from his hands and to my eyes. My mind shook when I saw his tear stained cheeks, his puffy red eyes, and running nose. Though, I made certain to keep my gaze still with his. I could see the shock in his eyes to my sudden intrusion, the surprise in his slightly dropped jaw to my now solemn pupils, and though he was hunched, he slowly raised his back up.

Was he truly surprised that I had barged in on him, or was he just taken aback that it had taken me so long to come to him? Whatever the case, I couldn't help but dart my determined eyes to the side in nervousness before returning them to his wet ones. I was beginning to grow uneasy at what I had done, and my mind quickly drew a blank as I tried hard to think of what to say to him, to comfort him. However, my heart seemed to have a plan, and I quickly focused on that instead. Raising my hooves forward, I felt a slight blush creep to my cheeks as I stretched toward him. My eyes furrowed in determination as I stared down at him while flexing my hoofs awkwardly; trying to invite him in without any words.

I rolled my lips back when I saw the confusion in his eyes to my actions, but my heart encouraged me. Slowly, I marched forward, my hooves still outstretched as we were only a foot away; and again, I looked down with determination as his moist pupils looked up. I gave a nod, trying hard to get him to understand without words. My heart raced as I watched his yellow eyes narrow and his jaw quiver. Soon, the hot tears were pouring out of him once again, and I quickly reached for him as he threw his shaking arms for me. Like a filly begging for a motherly hug, we embraced. His wails once again piercing my ears as I felt him begin to pull me down to a seat on the bed; I was slightly surprised at how desperate he was of the hug, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist and burying his head into my chest as his tears exploded.

"I'm sorry!" He managed out, before pulling me closer into the embrace.

At this, I couldn't help but smile lightly as I gently stroked his head. Rocking him gently from side to side as he continued to bury his head on my chest. This was out of character this was for the both of us, though our hearts were the culprits here.

'Cry out for help!'

'Help him!'

"My sweet friend." I whispered. "No matter how quiet or loud, I can always hear you."

Soon, the his tears were subsiding and he only stared out apathetically as I rocked him. Our hug still tight as he continued to rest his head against me. No words were needed for this moment. Only care. Even he has a breaking point... I'm just sorry I didn't act sooner.