Smile for me. _Please. _

__

Even if it’s a lie—I don’t care, I just want to see you smile. Just _once. _

I don’t… I don’t think I can do that.

-No. He has to. He has to. I felt the pain it took for him just to be able to say those words. But he has to. I need him to.-

No, no, you have to. You _can_ be happy. You can get better. Please. I need to see it.

-I taste the salt that clogs my eyes. I can’t see. I can’t let him be like this forever. I need to help him. I need to.-

_Please_. -Every word choked out. He doesn’t speak.- Let me help you. I would be anything for you.

-He stares. Can’t express anything.-

_Gabriel_.

-His name, a loss. He can’t get better. He won’t let me help. He won’t even try. No longer himself. I am lost.-

I’m so… I’m sorry,