The outcome of staying home sick and watching Glee reruns all day.
Disclaimer: Neither Glee nor these characters belong to me.
Sometimes I think that Shelby's pain hurts me more than it hurts her. I know that her Ice Princess façade is just that, but sometimes her cool gaze fools even me. I love her more than anything, but she's still a tough one, and at times it's hard to pinpoint what she's feeling. Her face is a book that is just as closed as mine is open.
Sometimes she comes home from work and she acts like everything's okay, and it amazes me, because I know she has more pain than anybody, even if she won't share it with me. She acts like she's fine and I'd be impressed with her control if it I didn't know that she's going to break eventually. But she's unrelenting as ever- methodical, professional, even distant. I would call her cold, like the others, if I didn't know better.
But I can see it in her eyes. In those bottomless hazel orbs, I see sadness. Hopelessness. Helplessness. Fear. And all I can do is take her into my arms and hold her close, murmuring sweet nothings in her ear. On those days, I take care of her as best I can.
And when she can't or won't, I cry for her, too. I cry so she doesn't have to.