A/N: A short, angsty oneshot I've been meaning to write for awhile...reviews would be appreciated, although not required, I suppose.
Disclaimer: Tis all Jo's.
Have you ever felt what it is like to lose everything? Has everything you've ever known suddenly just collapsed? Have you ever known that nothing, nothing will ever be the same? Have you ever felt as though there is nothing left for you in the world? Has your whole world ever come crashing down around you, leaving you suffocating, drowning in your own pain?
Have you ever thought that you could've stopped it? As if you hadn't done enough? As though you should have been brave as they'd been, instead of hiding yourself away? Have you ever known that though you love them, though they are heroes: you can't help but be angry at them, for leaving you here on your own, for being so damn brave? Have you ever wanted to scream at them, needed them to know that you're totally lost without them? Have you ever regretted never being able to say a proper goodbye?
Have you ever wished on every star at night, prayed for them to come back? Have you ever pleaded with the fates, making bargains for the lives of those lost? Have you ever had to come to terms with the fact that the only time you will see them is in your dreams? Has it ever occurred to you that however sweet the illusions...the sound of their laughs, the sight of their smiles...they will only last a little while? Have you ever had to give up on forever, on happily ever after?
Have you ever lost the love of your life? Have you woken up in the morning to an empty bed, wondering what happened, what you did to deserve this? Have you ever believed that a part of you has gone forever? That you've lost your other half, your better half? Has your reason to breathe, to fight, to live each day suddenly just vanished? Have you ever been left all alone, with only your tears to keep you company in this world, which has suddenly become so numb? Has your soul ever felt empty?
Have you ever lost a son-in-law? Have you ever seen the figure of the man who brought joy to the life of your daughter lying cold, motionless on the floor? Have you ever grieved for your grandson, who would be forced to grow up fatherless? Have you ever regretted discriminating against this brave and noble man, refusing to accept him for what he was?
Have you ever lost your daughter? Your child, the fruit of your womb, the last memory of the life you had with your lost love? If losing your husband wasn't enough, have you ever had to see the dead body of the daughter you shared with him, lying among all those who gave their lives in combat? Have you ever felt as though those years you spent nurturing her, caring for her, loving her, preparing her for the world were all for naught? Have you ever felt as though the last bit of your heart that remained whole hit the floor all at once, shattering to a million pieces?
Have you ever experienced such heartbreak as Andromeda Tonks? Has your whole body ever shut down from the tragedy you find yourself in, simply collapsing? Have you ever broken down in front of a crowd of strangers, simply not caring about anything anymore? Have you ever wished for the end? Have you ever wanted it to end, but known that it can't? Have you ever felt as though just one thing was keeping you from shutting yourself away 'til sweet release came? Have you ever felt as though there was just one reason for you to live, but that one glorious thing would forever be a reminder to you of what you'd lost? Have you ever felt as though you must be strong for this one thing, however much you wanted to give up your will to live?
Have you ever truly lost everything?
A/N: That certainly turned out differently than I'd originally planned. I actually almost cried writing that...that's saying a lot for me. Let me know if you like it!