'I miss you.'
It was the one thought flowing through Ed's mind as he lay in his bed.
'I miss you, Mom.'
He stared hard up at the ceiling, watching the moonlight and fighting back the tears threatening to pour onto his pillow.
'Why? Why did you have to leave us?'
His breath caught in his throat. Hot tears pouring down his cheeks, he took a shaky breath, attempting to hold back his sobs.
'Why can't you come back to us?'
He brought his hands up to his eyes, aware that Al was out walking around somewhere, so there would be no one there to see his moment of weakness.
'I miss you!'
He let out a strangled sob, pulling his pillow out from under his head and crying into it.
'I try to be strong for Al, but I just can't do it! I miss you! I want you here! I want to feel your hugs again! Mom! I miss you!'
He hiccuped, crying his heart out, taking short, shaky breaths. He tried to quiet down when he heard the soft creak of the door opening.
"Ed?" Lieutenant Riza called softly into the room, "I thought I heard something." He pulled the pillow away from his face to look at her, whimpering with the attempt to hide his sobs. Her eyes softened when she saw his tear stained face and heard his sniffles. "Oh Ed." She whispered, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. She walked over to the bed, perching on the side and pulling Ed into her arms. He stiffened at first, but then relaxed into her embrace.
'Mom, why aren't you here?'
He broke down again, crying into Riza's shoulder as she stroked his hair.
'I miss you.'
They stayed like that until Ed cried himself to sleep. Riza stared down at his sleeping form with sad eyes, brushing the bangs from his forehead.
"Oh Ed," She whispered, "it's a relief to know you can still cry. But it breaks my heart to know how much you've gone through. Please, don't pretend to be fearless. Please, don't forget how to cry."
With that, she silently stood up and walked out of his room, with one last glance at the small state alchemist, before closing the door, and continuing down the hallway. Wiping a stray tear from her cheek.
I was feeling really sad when I wrote this because I miss someone.