He himself knew of the hundred worlds seen through the written page. The book this girl had in her hands was a sad one, with much death, betrayal, and wounding. The books he had seen in her backpack were no better. He wondered if she would be wounded by the sad stories.

She turned the last page, and put the book down. Her hands shook, and she bit her lip. 'It's so sad…' she said quietly.

'Yes,' he replied. 'It is.'

She looked up at him, a long look, with her head cocked slightly to the side. She smiled, a small smile, and said 'but it's OK. He'll make it, and he never complained. So neither will I.'

She gave him another smile, with some of her old cheer, and then with more. She moved beside him, and leaned against his shoulder. 'I've lost no one. I cannot cry out of empathy, for I have not felt what he is feeling. But I can wish him all the happiness the rest of his life can offer, and maybe that will heal him.' She was silent for a moment. 'Does it hurt forever?' she asked.

He felt he had to tell her the truth. 'yes,' he said, 'but when you're with your friends, the pain goes away, for a while.'

'Oh…' she said. Then she smiled. 'Am I your friend?' she asked.

He gave a slight smile. 'Of course you are,' he said.

Her smile only grew. 'Then I'll stick with you, and we can help each other. I'll try to make you feel better.'

'What about you?' he asked, wondering how she would answer.

'I don't need help. You've made my pain go away already.'

Her certainty and innocence made him smile. She had read so much misery, and, despite what she had said, seen sadness herself, and yet she still thought it was gone for good.

He watched her playing happily. Then again, he thought, maybe it was.

it's me again! Sueslayer #2! Hiya! I hope you liked the story. The boy is a character from TOS. Can you guess who? The girl is just a friend, some random OC. I guess, if you squint, she could be me. I've decided, just for the purposes of this story, to make them know each other well. I'm putting the disclaimer at the end, so it won't ruin the feel of the story. Also, because I just feel like it.

Sueslayer2:Allrighy! –waves hands- Let's use my mysterious friend! Hey! Girl! Over here!

Mysterious girl: -looks up from book- what?

Sueslayer2: disclaimer time!

Mysterious girl: The3sueslayers do not own the other guy. They do own me, and the random sad book I was reading. –sniff- review!