"You can cry… who said you can't?" Lucian's voice came low, almost a whisper, before he suddenly lowered himself onto the floor in front of me. The cool air around him stirred as he reached out, gently trying to pull me closer. "Even without tears, you can cry as much as you want…"
"No!" I shouted, my voice sharp, breaking through the quiet of the room.
He froze, surprise flashing in his eyes.
"You… don't… understand!" My voice cracked, anger tightening my chest. I could feel my brows knit together, my breath trembling. "You know how it feels when you want to let it out… when everything hurts but your eyes just won't let you?"
He didn't speak, didn't move, just watched.
"Tears mean something," I went on, my words tumbling out faster, rougher. "They mean I can pour it out… the sadness, the anger, the frustration… but I can't! I can't!"
The sound of my own voice echoed against the cold walls, and for a moment, I hated how small it made me feel. How helpless.
