"Stay with me tonight. Let me hold you even if that's all it is. Let me keep you safe." - Becca Fitzpatrick


The whispering started the moment she sat down in front of the pale, young boy. Not that she minded. He looked up to her for a moment, probably wondering why she is sitting across him when there are so many other empty desks in the library.

Settling in her place, she looked at him, eyebrows raised, silently challenging him to say anything. He didn't react. He lowered his gaze to the book he was previously engrossed in.

She slowly let out the breath she had been holding, she was quite sure he'd say something hurtful just to get her to leave. But he didn't.

The whispering stopped after awhile. It does nothing to help her nerves. The tension was so deafening she could slice it with a knife. She kept glancing at him as they quietly doing their work.

She wanted to say something. She could tell he wanted to say something too. But neither dare to open their mouth. Scared that whatever they said might ruin this peace they have going between them now.

So they just sit, quietly. Both marvelling in the comfort of the silence, knowing this all will be over once one of them move, or speak.

Being around him in the silence, it brings her serenity. Of course she will gladly kill herself before she admit that.

But his scent makes her calm. Makes her forget everything around her. Sometimes, that is all she need. Just being near him, close enough to smell him. It doesn't matter that no words are spoken. This is sufficient for her.

Few hours later, after her work is done, she packed her things but she didn't make a move. He already packed moments ago. She wondered why he didn't just leave.

She just sit there, looking at him.

Like always, she would find him looking back at her.

She finally realized that he needed this as much as she does. This thing, this silence or whatever it is between them, is addictive as it is trouble for them.

It's a dangerous game they're playing and yet she couldn't get enough of it.

She should feel guilty because for the fifth time in the week, in the exact same spot, she have found solace in his presence.

But she didn't.

Both of them have find comfort in each other without even uttering one word. They gazed into each other's eyes, silently challenging the other to make the first move and after what seemed to be a lifetime, she saw his mouth slowly curled upwards.

That's how she knows everything going to be alright.


"You are most powerful when you are most silent. People never expect silence. They expect words, motion, defense, offense, back and forth. They expect to leap into the fray. They are ready, fists up, words hanging leaping from their mouths. Silence? No." - Alison McGee