Part 1: Four Years Ago

Ponyboy paced the small living room, his frustration bubbling over. "I can't believe you, Darry!" he shouted, his voice cracking with anger. "You never listen to me! You treat me like I'm still a kid!"

Darry's brow furrowed deeply, his own temper rising. "Dammit, Pony, you're not thinking straight! You're still just a reckless kid who doesn't understand—"

"I understand plenty!" Pony interrupted, his fists clenched at his sides. "I understand that you don't trust me, that you never listen!"

Soda, always the peacemaker, stepped in between them, wrapping his arms around Ponyboy in a tight hug. "Hey, little buddy," he murmured, feeling Pony's shoulders tremble. "It's gonna be okay."

Pony buried his face in Soda's chest, tears wetting his brother's shirt. Soda rubbed his back soothingly, waiting for the storm to pass. "You know I love you, right?" Soda whispered, his voice gentle and full of warmth.

Pony let out a choked laugh, muffled against Soda's shirt. "Yeah," he sniffled, finally starting to calm down. "I know, Soda. Thanks."

Part 2: Present Day

Four years had flown by, but some things hadn't changed. Ponyboy was now eighteen, but the arguments with Darry still cut deep. Tonight's disagreement had escalated quickly, leaving Pony seething with frustration.

He stormed into his room and slammed the door shut, collapsing onto his bed. Soda followed silently, sitting down beside him and pulling Pony into a comforting embrace.

"Why does everything have to be so damn unfair?" Pony muttered bitterly, his voice thick with emotion. "I lost Mom and Dad, and then Johnny and Dally... Two-bit and Steve moved away, and now..."

He looked up at Soda with tear-filled eyes. "And now you're gone too," he whispered. "It's not fair that there's no one left to hold me when I cry."

There was a moment of silence, and then Soda's presence seemed to fade away, leaving Pony clutching at empty air. He blinked in disbelief, feeling the void where Soda had been. "You're dead," he whispered, realization hitting him like a wave.

Pony curled up tighter, tears streaming down his face. "It's not fair," he choked out, his voice breaking. "It's not fair that you're gone, too."

There was no one to hold Pony when he cried now, so he had to hold himself.