Mike poked his head into his sister's bedroom. "Aria?" He whispered. He saw the lump that was her body lying under the sheets, but she didn't stir when he called out to her. He walked into her room more, shuffling his feet as he moved forward. "Aria…" he began again.
"What do you want, Mike?" Aria's voice was low and shaky – like she had just been crying. The sound of her broken voice made Mike's heart hurt.
"Aria, won't you please look at me, or something?" A few moments passed before he saw movement under the sheets.
Aria pushed the covers off of her and sat up straight in her bed. Her eyes were red along with her cheeks, and her skin was pale. The sight of Aria looking this upset frightened Mike, but he attempted to remain calm. However, internally, he could not prevent himself from remembering when he was in such a state that seemed so hopeless to him.
"Aria, listen – I know that you're upset. I can see it on your face. I remember when I felt as you do now – when all that I wanted to do was lay in bed for ever, and go to sleep hoping that I would never wake up. It seemed hopeless to me then, and I know this all seems hopeless to you now." Aria drew her legs up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and placed her chin on her knees as her dark eyes fell shut. Mike took in a breath. "But it's not – it's not hopeless. People are here for you – they want to help you, and they can. I know it's hard to believe it now, but it's going to be okay."
Aria opened her eyes and a few small tears fell off of her lids. "I just feel so broken," she muttered before a heavier flow of tears began to fall. Mike quickly moved to her side, sitting next to her on the bed.
"You're not broken," he stated. "Not even close, okay? It's going to be okay."
Aria slowly sunk into her brother's arms as she continued to cry. Mike began to fill his eyes filling, but he tried to not make a sound. He didn't need comfort right now. He had to put all of his efforts into trying to make his sister feel as comfortable as possible, because he knew what it was like to be alone feeling as she did.