Hero.

Behind closed eyes, you see nothing but darkness. A few moments pass. You make out an obscure boy standing between shadows. His broad shoulders are meant to protect and to care. His chin is lifted, proud and dependable.

As his eyes glance around the unfamiliar environment, you find an array of light flickering through his bright irises.

Faith. Warmth. Freedom.

The lights dance around his eyes, forever moving. They pierce through the dark haze, keeping him safe and afloat. The darkness won’t consume him.

You're wrong though.

The shadows grow, morphing into fog. The murky air devours the weakening light. Unafraid, he stands his ground, prepared for the unknown. But soon, all his light is taken away.

Your eyes drowsily open to meet the night. Closing your eyes, you try to fall asleep again. To your dismay, it’s impossible.

Groggily, you get out of bed and walk over to open your window. In the vibrant moonlight, you notice someone.

A long, elegant gown follows the curves of her body before fanning out around her. She sits on the grass, face raised to the moon. Her soft hair glimmers in the moonlight, chasing the gentle breeze of the night.

Taking a seat, you rest your head against the wall and wonder what she’s doing on your front lawn in the middle of the night.

Before you can ponder about the girl any longer, you’re brought back to the darkness. The boy so confident earlier is now trapped within blackness, lost and suspicious.

A pair of hands seizes his one arm, pulling him to the right. A soft buzzing resonates through the air. The boy glances, worried, in that direction.

Another pair of hands grabs his other arm, fiercely dragging him to the left. The boy winces in pain. The buzzing soon turns into a ring.

There are two different pitches, seemingly arguing. Each pair yanks at the boy’s arms simultaneously, as if he was a prize won by the best fighter. With each tug, the ring grows louder.

The boy recoils in pain. He clenches his teeth, so no cry can escape from his mouth. As he’s being torn apart, the tugging becomes more vicious while the ringing becomes unbearable.

His shoulders sag, ready to give in. His lowered head keeps his lifeless gaze glued to the floor. His eyes show no more light. Shadows slither through the once bright eyes.

Hurt. Fear. Doubt.

The tugging and the ringing reach their climax before falling completely silent. The hands release their grip on the boy’s arms, scuttling away.

He falls into the darkness, breathless and cold.

Your eyes fly open, wide awake. Your heart is ready to jump out of your chest. You wipe your sweaty palms on your pants. The goose bumps on your skin prickle as you shiver from the remnants of your dream.

Standing up, you close your opened window. Outside, you notice the girl still occupies both your lawn and the moon.

You walk through your quiet house and slip through the front door, heading for the girl.

She hears your footsteps and looks up with a goofy smile. "Good morning," she greets you. "I thought it might be rude of me to ring your doorbell so early." Your heart begins to calm down. The goose bumps fade. You’re relieved to see your best friend, despite the ungodly hour.

She pats the grass next to her, inviting you to sit down. You take the invitation. Instantly, your friend begins to ramble about her exciting evening at a masquerade ball. As you listen, you can’t help but be soothed by her voice.

Soon enough, the boy shrouded in darkness reappears. The scene continues. He lies there on the ground, nearly broken and hopeless. Nearly, but not wholly.

It takes a while, but slowly, specks of light resurface in his gray eyes. Weak at first, they only heal the wounds within his body. However, the light strengthens and eliminates the smothering dullness, heaving him back on his feet.

The black color is picked away, like how a child picks dried glue off his fingers. Gradually, his fingers are clean; the color black is gone.

Although tired and weary, he lifts his head and stands straight, revealing his eyes. The dark chemicals mix with the dancing lights, forming an intricate world behind his eyes.

Wise. Knowing. Understanding.

He seems to see right through your skin into your soul, finding the truth. Nothing is hidden from him. No longer broken. No longer hopeless. He is reborn with every lesson already learned.

In the new illumination, you recognize him. The way he stands. The structure of his face. The silence he keeps.

He is you; you are him.

With eyes open again, your friend mutters, "Sorry for boring you."

You smile in apology. You see the sun has risen slightly above the horizon.

She stands up beside you, stretching her arms. "Long night," she comments. "Let's eat." Already, she’s walking toward your kitchen.

You follow her lead.

"I don't get you," she sighs. "People hand over their vulnerability to you, and you give to them a new confidence." She makes a face. "And you always keep silent, never complaining about the burden." Her long dress catches underneath her feet constantly as she stumbles along. "You’re like an undefined law. No one understands you, but everyone knows you’re the good guy."

The moment she trips, your outstretched arms are there to catch her.

Relief washes over her face. "It’s nice to know I’ll always be caught whenever I fall." Re-establishing her balance, she holds his hands. "You know, I think that’s why we make such good friends, despite how mysterious you are. I need you, and you kind of need me." She grins. "After all, I am Love and you are Trust."