1:57am

1:57am

Hot tears fell down her cheeks, as sobs racked through her frail body. She gave up, letting go of all the emotion she'd been holding for months. All the sadness and stress were emptied from her soul through her cries, and they flowed like a river, cascading from her tear ducts, dripping off her chin and jaw, landing wherever they desired. Her happiness was shattered, and honestly she couldn't see it ever being taped back together, piece by piece.

Something disrupted her crying, a noise, far away from her. Her sobs quietened, tears still falling as she listened, afraid she'd been caught. She hated crying, and it was even worse when she was seen doing it. Vulnerability was a horrible, embarrassing feeling for her, and when she cried she was at her weakest, most exposed moment.

Frowning, she stood and followed the sound, feet silently padding across the carpet on her bedroom floor. It was her phone; the sharp shrills of her old school ringtone louder than her sobs. A number flashed on the screen, unsaved and unknown. Hesitantly, she answered, gulping down her cries.

"H-hello?"

"Hi I was wondering if Sam was there?"

"Uh no you've got the wrong number sorry."

"Oh that's-wait, are you crying?"

"No."

"It sure sounds like it."

"Crying is for the weak."

"No it's not.

"Yes it is."

"So you think you're weak then?"

Silence.

"No."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't. Even if I did I wouldn't admit it to a stranger."

"Hey even a stranger knows sadness."

"I'm not sad."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Then why were you crying?"

"That has nothing to do with you!"

"So you were crying!"

"I never said that!"

"Well, no, but you did imply it. Quite strongly, too."

"Who are you?"

"A stranger."

"A stranger?"

"Yep. One who cares, too."

"No one cares."

"I just said I did. So, pray tell, why are you crying?"