Silence.

Cold, unforgiving, critical silence.

The kind of silence when your heart beats one million times a minute; so fast and so loud that you're sure everyone can hear it echoing throughout the room.

The kind of silence where a minuscule buzzing fly is multiplied by trillions, and people blinking sounds like metal on metal.

It's the kind of silence when you're sure that everyone can hear those nasty thoughts that constantly run through your head echoing through the room as though you're screaming them into a blow horn.

The silence where you're sure that you can hear everyone's thoughts and heartbeats too because you know that that chaotic melody isn't something you've heard before…

Silence that you're sure is the final sign before unavoidable doom.

And then I glimpse over at him, he being unaware that my eyes have wandered in his direction as he sits, critically observing what is below, something I myself am not interested in.

His crimson eyes are filled with a deep concentration; analyzing, contemplating… his jaw is locked firmly, as he refuses to reveal any sense of emotion. Not in front of the Head Master.

Posture straight he clenches his fists, leaning forward a bit, looking for something, anything. Minuscule flaws that he can point out, reasons why the others are failing so he can learn from their mistakes.

I am made distantly aware that the silence is being broken by loud crashes and yelling, but his sturdy muteness drags me back to a place where none of that matters.

The cold, lonely silence…

He glances at me and for a brief moment, a smile passes over his features, and then he's right back to watching, always watching.

The silence never felt more comforting.