He's Not There

She stumbles, reaches out but there's nothing to hold onto.

He's not there to catch her as he should be.

The ground flies towards her – or perhaps she falls towards it – and suddenly, she's on top of it.

Pain shoots through her hands where the skin is torn and the same smoldering ache burns her knees.

She wants to cry, needs to cry, but doesn't.

She refuses to.

He's not there to wrap her in his arms and comfort her.

Bare hands flat on the concrete, she gingerly pushes up and climbs to a sitting position. She can do no more.

If she is to stand, she will surely collapse again.

She will crash again.

He's not there.

She breathes in deep, exhales, takes another breath to slow the racing of her heart. She swallows back the tears she longs to shed. Her throat is on fire.

Hanging her head, she sits and waits. Surely someone will help her.

He's not there, but someone else might care.

Someone…

She stares solemnly at the concrete, at the patch of blood that now stains it (her blood) and the footsteps around her blur into one another, a symphony of people around her.

They don't care.

None of them do.

She is sprawled on the concrete and they pass her by without a thought.

And he's not there.

Her heart is sinking in her chest when out of nowhere, it comes.

A hand reaching down, offering her the support she so desperately needs.

She slowly lifts her hand up and in moments, the stranger's hand is gripping hers and helping her stand on her feet once more.

No longer is she sprawled on the ground, unseen.

She comes face to face with her savior, her hero.

Her throat tightens.

"Mac?"

He smiles at her, almost sadly.

"I didn't think you were coming."

He hadn't been there.

She had fallen and she had been alone.

"You didn't think I'd leave you on your own, did you?"

Yes, she wants to tell him.

She wants to scream it at him until he has to cover his ears. Until her throat bleeds as her hands and her knees have.

You weren't here.

Instead she clutches at his shirt.

"It's about damn time you got here."

He holds her up, pulls her close and finally she can let go.

Finally, she is not invisible.

She sobs into his shoulder as he strokes her hair.

"I'm here now."