Just a sweet moment. Pertain it to whatever tragedy you like, I didn't have a specific one in mind when I wrote it. Peace.
woke up and it was dark. Too dark to be awake. I looked at the clock on the nightstand. It read 1:07. I sat up and furiously rubbed my eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them. So why was I awake?
It was then I noticed the empty space next to me in the bed. Running my fingers over the mattress, I noted that it was still a little warm. Pony must have just gotten out of bed. Even though I was tired and had to be up early for work, I got up and went looking for him.
All the lights were off in the house, and Darry's bedroom door was closed. Everything was the same way it had been before we had all gone to bed. I started feeling a little bit creeped out, like someone was about to jump out from around a corner.
Just as I was starting to let my imagination run wild, I heard soft sniffling noises. I still couldn't see a damn thing, but I followed the sounds. My got caught on the leg of the couch, and a whispered a string of curses.
"Soda?" I heard a weak voice call out softly.
"Pony? Where are you?" I knelt down by the couch, ignoring the radiating pain in my foot. Still not being able to see anything, I felt around for my brother. My hands touched his back. He jumped slightly.
He didn't respond, just kept sniffing and whimpering. As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw that he was sitting on the floor, knees drawn to his chest. I sat down next to him, and pulled him into my lap. I rubbed his back softly and rested my chin on top of his head.
"Hey, come on, Ponyboy. Tell me what's wrong."
Somehow, I already knew the answer. It was the same one that had been bugging him for the past four months now, and I didn't know how to help him. He shut Darry and I out. He didn't ever want to talk about it, and I was pretty sure this wasn't the first time he'd had a breakdown in the middle of the night. It was just the first time I'd been awake for it.
"I can't help you if you don't talk to me," I whispered gently, rocking him back and forth.
"It's nothin', Soda." He wiped at his eyes.
"It ain't nothin', Pony; I know you're still hurting."
I could feel the sobs racking through his body now. I turned his head into my chest, and just sat with him, rocking him as he cried.
"You gotta talk to me, kid." I carressed his long hair. "You can't just let the hurt envelope you. You gotta get it out."
Again, he didn't say anything. I sighed, defeated.
"I just wish there was some way I could make this easier for you."
I don't know how long we sat there, but it felt like at least an hour. I ran my fingers through his hair some more. Ponyboy finally started getting sleepy after a while.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed." Still holding him, I stood up and carried him back to our bedroom. I laid him on his side of the bed, and tucked him in. Pushing his hair back, I kissed his forehead softly.
I climbed in and rolled over so I was facing him. Hooking an arm around Ponyboy, I pulled him into me, and wrapped both arms around him. His breathing was light and even. Smiling, I kissed his forehead again and shut my eyes. I knew my little brother was hurting, and that nothing I did could take it away. But I would be there for him every step of the way. I'd make sure of it.