Hello lovely readers! I know I had told some of you when I replied to your reviews that this chapter would be up much sooner...

But this little thing called Life got in the way, and I ended up not going home at all this weekend which meant I couldn't access my laptop.

Anywhos, the chapter is up now, so

enjoy! c:

I was standing in this white room, full of nothingness and the shock of the white.

There was a figure in the distance, somehow silhouetted against the brightness.

A dark red liquid was dripping from the wrist, and gathering in a pool of blood.

I started towards the silhouette, but the scene changed.

Suddenly, there was a large willow tree, the silhouetted figure now under its branches.

There were bits of eerie music floating in the air, a collage of songs drifting in and out of earshot – as if they were lost fragments. As a whole, the lyrics added a disturbing effect to the picture.

A large, yellow moon floated over the ominous night scene, with a large devilish grin that was oozing blood.

The moonlight shifted, shedding light onto the silhouette for a brief moment.

I witnessed a glimpse of long dark hair shadowing the face. The eyes were shining through, an eerie emptiness held within.

The eyes were unmistakable – the golden glow, the fiery light extinguished.

As I recognized the figure, I started towards him and began calling his name.

I stood in front of his lifeless face, but no sign of recognition was shown. Suddenly, the contradictory ebony haired boy with glowing eyes turned his face towards the moon before the scene changed for the last time.

I realized by now, that it was like I was watching a movie, or viewing pictures. I could witness the events, and feel apart of it, but I couldn't interact with anyone of anything apart of them.

Now, a field of long grass stretched out before me.

As I explored this field, I came upon a patch where the grass was dried up and withered, dead.

There was a small doll-like bunny in the centre of this patch. It looked like it belonged to a small child, a toy, only now it seemed much more morbid.

The black button eyes gleamed, patch work running down its long ears and seams. As if someone had torn apart this rabbit and decided to stitch it back together once more.

The ears drooped down to the ground, and its hand held a toy sword, pointing straight towards its own heart.

The whole situation was then cast into a darkness, with nothing to be seen at all.

It was as if I was falling down a dark abyss, down in a never-ending spiral.

I woke with a start, quickly sitting up.

What just happened…?

None of it made much sense, but it still shook me.

The boy…It was most definitely Edward. But… Why was his hair black? Was it some sort of…symbolism, in my dream?

I sighed, and got out of bed. I went into the bathroom to splash some water on my face, and then proceeded to put on a pair of sweatpants before exiting my bedroom.

When I paused outside Edward's door, the events of last night came cascading back into my mind.

My head began to throb. Before checking on the young alchemist, I decided to get a glass of water and to take an aspirin for my head.

I made my way back upstairs, and slowly opened the door to Ed's room.

His sleeping figure was scrunched up, holding himself together.

The barely visible face looked so peaceful, his breathing the only sound in the room.

His wrist was hanging off the side of the bed, probably to avoid irritating the cuts.

What happened last night, to cause him to do that?

I was incredibly ignorant when it came to this subject.

I knew absolutely nothing about mental health, or cutting, or depression, or what he was going through…

What made me even think in the first place to take this upon me?

I want to help him, but I should've let someone else take this on.

Someone who knew how to deal with this.

But… Knowing how to deal with it doesn't necessarily mean caring for him.

And caring about him doesn't mean I know how to help him.

But it's easier to learn about the issues, rather than learn how to care for someone.

I left Edward to his sleep, and decided to make some pancakes for breakfast.

I was hungry, and there was no doubt in my mind that he would want food once he was awake.

I had just finished cooking the last of the batter when I heard the uneven sound of Ed's footsteps on the staircase. The clink of the automail, and then the soft thud of a foot…

I placed the platter of pancakes on the table and turned towards the small boy.

"Good morning, Edward."

I tried to sound as normal as possible, keeping the emotion out of my voice.

"Morning…" he grumbled as he rubbed at his eyes.

He sat down at the table, and I poured us both a glass of orange juice before sitting down. No need to bring the milk conflict into this.

The entire meal, I tried to think of something to say – anything, but I couldn't come up with anything.

I looked up at him, noticing his eyes…. They were puffy, not to mention incredibly bloodshot.

Ed stood and took his dishes to the sink, as I told him that I would clean up later.

He nodded, and I watched as he made his way back upstairs.

His face hadn't shown any emotion at all the entire time he was down here.

It was almost as if he was trying too hard to appear normal.

I couldn't really blame him though.

But I also couldn't let him be alone.

I quickly cleared off the table, and made my way to his room.

The door was shut.

I knocked softly.

Not a sound came from within.

"Edward…" I said softly.

Silence.

I slowly turned the doorknob, and gave the door a slight push.

He was sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed.

His arms were hugging his knees to his chest, and his head was buried in the mess of limbs.

The breaths he was taking were incredibly shallow.

I walked over to the window, and drew back the curtains, which allowed some of the morning sun into the dreary room.

The boy still hadn't moved, or said anything.

"We need to talk about what happened last night. I know you don't want to, but… There's no way around it."

It was then that I realized he had begun sobbing.

I decided not to push it.

I sat down beside him, and pulled him closer to me, in what I hoped was comforting.

He continued to cry, and I just let him. I didn't know what to say, and anything I said wouldn't help him anyways.

When he began to calm down a bit, he started to speak.

"Last night… I… I guess the reality of everything hit me…especially after talking to Winry on the phone…I could hear her bawling on the other side of the line, and… It was because of me. I just keep hurting everyone. And it…it isn't that I necessarily felt so depressed right then… I just… Cutting is how I've learned to deal with pain –anything, really. And…now I can't stop myself. No matter how much I don't want to go through with it, I can't stop myself. It's as if I'm not myself when I get into that mindset, of wanting to cut."

He stopped talking, and began taking some deep breaths.

A silence fell over the both of us. I didn't know what to say, and somehow… I knew I shouldn't speak. I should just listen.

"When I first started feeling like this, I would think about cutting…but never did it. But once I did, I would only use dull things, like paper clips, and would only cut once, at a time. I wouldn't make myself bleed. And then I started breaking the skin. And after that, I would do multiple cuts… I never once wanted to bring a blade to my own skin. I had convinced myself that I would never do that. But…but one day I did. I couldn't find any paper clips, and so… I went for the pair of scissors in my room instead. And it just keeps going from there… The thing that scares me most, is myself. I never once thought I would cut myself, but look at where I am now. And I've been thinking about…ending it… for quite some time…and so, what happens if I get into that mindset, and I end up actually going through with it? I can't trust anything… I'm scared of myself."

That last sentence hung in the air.

The fear was audible in his voice.

I thought Ed had been sobbing before, but now… now he couldn't control it at all. He was leaning his face into my chest, crying his heart out.

I didn't say anything.

Nothing I could say would help, and anything I might say would only make it worse. I didn't want to seem like I was trying to fix everything, like I knew what he was feeling. I didn't. And I won't pretend I do.

I just listen.

And right now, that's all he needed.

That's all I could do.

He just didn't want to be alone. And he wouldn't.

Not anymore.

Ed ended up falling asleep, his head now resting in my lap.

I sighed.

I had the day off work today, so it wasn't important that I leave.

I stared down at his sleeping figure.

He hadn't taken his medication yet today… But that could be dealt with later.

Right now, this boy deserves his peace.

And that's exactly what I gave him.

I know it's a tad short, but whatevaaa. It's now my spring break, and so I will have more time to write! :D

Also, fun fact: The dream Roy had was actually inspired by this super creepy and rather disturbing picture I randomly drew the other day. I had never drawn just out of my head before, without any visuals, and that was what happened. XD

Anywhos,

Let me know what you think!

Feedback is lovely!

And you all are lovely for favouriting and following and reading and reviewing and I LOVE YOU ALL.

- HazelEyes8D