A/N: Sorry for the delay. I will try to update more frequently and I will try to complete my other fics as well. Reviews, suggestions, and comments are welcome. Now on with the show!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hey Arnold or any of the characters from this awesome show!

Helga Pataki

(13 Years old)

Arnold was gone. Even in my sleep, I couldn't escape my sadness. All through the night, I tossed and turned, wrought with the pain of losing my beloved. I was a ghost; a shadow of my former self. Not even a day without him and I could feel myself falling apart. I was weak. I had allowed my love for him to consume my heart and pick away at the coldness shielding my heart. With him gone, I felt the familiar warmth in my heart that I had become so used to die out. In its place, the coldness returned.

"Love," I spat, "what a fool hardy and useless emotion. So warm and nurturing at first, so soft and lovely! And then, right when you least expect it, the feeling is pulled out right from under you and suddenly you find yourself falling into an endless pit of despair! A fissure of turmoil! A black hole birthed from the very heart that collapsed due to the sudden shock of love lossed…And yet…"

I sighed. Without my muse to guide me, my inspiration ran dry. Why was it that without Arnold I was a shell of my former self? A work of art doomed to never be completed. Was fate really that cruel? Or was I just that unlovable..?

Quietly, I pushed back such thoughts. I felt so bitter and devoid of life. Without him, there was nothing to look forward to in my life. He was the single ray of sunshine to break through the dark cloud that was my life. Without him, everything seemed so…lackluster and so dull. The only things I had left to keep me sane were Phoebe, and my sessions with Dr. Bliss. If I were to lose either of those two now, criminey, I don't know what I'd do. I had so few things to look forward to in life.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I decided that I would not be attending school today. After all, it was Friday, and it was the last day of school. But most importantly, it was the day he left Hillwood behind. I knew Bob and Miriam wouldn't notice, my so called "friends" must understand, and our teacher was a no brained dimwit who would know better than to ask any questions.

I was stirred from my thoughts suddenly when I heard a light knocking on my door.

"Helga..?" called a small voice from behind my door.

My eyes shifted to the door, and I immediately knew who it was. Phoebe, oh caring and forever faithful Phoebe. I struggled to find a voice to call out to her, but I found myself unable.

"Oh Helga," called out the soft voice once more, but this time with a little more conviction, "I'm coming in now."

As the door knob turned and she emerged, I felt my dreary spirits lift. As Phoebe rounded the door into my room, I lifted my eyes toward her. She hadn't changed much over the years, and to be honest, I liked it better that way. She was still the small, petite, Japanese-American she always was. Still the bright, intelligent girl she has always been. Her kind and soft personality was untouched by the years and she was still Helga Pataki's best friend, well only friend. The only changes Phoebe made were her appearance, but only in the slightest ways. She now wore her hair down, and it touched down to her shoulders. She wore a black pencil skirt under her blue sweater, but other than that, she was still the same old Phoebe.

"What are you doing her Pheebs?" I managed to croak out.

"Helga, school is over. You must have slept the day away."

"..."

"Helga please, I know that you are going through a tough time, but let me in. Let me know how you are feeling!" she pleaded as she walked over to me and sat at the edge of my bed. "You're my best friend Helga, and I know you are stronger than this. I know that you may feel awful but please don't let this consume you!"

"I'm sorry Phoebe," I manage to whisper as I am on the verge of tears, "I just him so much."

I can feel her sad eyes searching mine and she softly rubs my back. I open my mouth to say more, but the tears overcome me and spill from my eyes. I felt so weak, so broken. But, she knows that there is no more need for words. We sit in silence as I cry and Phoebe comforts me, occasionally whispering soft words of encouragement. For the first time in years, I break down in front of Phoebe and she wordlessly comforts me and hands me tissues. I cry and cry until there are no tears left, and then I cry again. Phoebe says nothing as I sputter incoherent sounds and furious curses. She takes it all in and then some. But after a while, she finally speaks up.

"Okay Helga, that's enough," she commands.

"I…wha?" I sputter, a giant glob of mucus hanging out of my nose.

"I said," she continued, pausing to wipe my nose, "that's enough! Your Helga Geraldine Pataki and you are stronger than this. Just because Arnold has left doesn't mean your life is ending!"

I flinch as Phoebe says his name, and I am shocked by her sudden anger.

"What?" she demands, indicating my flinch.

Geez Pheebs, yell at your best friend while she's having a mental breakdown why dontcha? And while you're at it, speak his name out loud! I inwardly scowl. My eyes drift to the floor and I refuse to answer her.

"Is it because I said his name?" she questions, seemingly reading my mind.

Slowly, I nod my head.

"Oh, well in that case, Arnold. Arnold! ARNOLD!" she shouts, "Helga, he may have left, but your life isn't ending! He has promised to contact you and visit you as soon as possible. Please, I'm doing this for your own good."

"I know Phoebe," I say sitting up and rubbing my arm, "I wanna thank you for doing all this and puttin' up with me, ya know? I know I'm not the easiest friend to have."

At the sound of my compliance, Phoebe shoots me a smile. "Helga, just because you get difficult sometimes, doesn't make you any less of a great friend. Why in fact, it makes you an even better friend. I don't expect you to be happy and back to your normal self tomorrow or any time soon in fact. I just want you to know that I'm here for you. And in fact, how about I accompany you to your emergency session with Dr. Bliss? We can get all dressed up, have a girls night, and even have a sleep over! We can-!"

"Pheebs! Too much…"

"Right, shall we?" she says extending her hand out to me.

"Yeah, let's go," I answer unenthusiastically.