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Companion

by P. Y. Lau

A loud crash awakens me and I look towards the door. She has been crying again. From the swollen tear ducts in her bloodshot eyes, I can see that she isn't through yet. As she sniffles sporadically, I prepare myself for the next barrage of tears. I don't know what she's crying about yet, but I know she is going to tell me. She always does. I wait anxiously as she storms across the room toward me. I want to say something, but the words get stuck in my throat. All I can do is manage a smile.

Her thin delicate hands guide me of the bed towards her. Her grip is unusually tense today. I feel the caress of her lips as she plants a kiss on my forehead. A tear trickle down her face and splatters on mine. Cradled against her breast, I hear the dull beating of her heart. She pushes me back onto the bed, smiles weakly and asks me how my day was. I know that anything I might say would only upset her and remain silent. She turns her back to me and says, "That's nice, my day was horrible!" I say nothing and continue watching her. She whirls around to face me again. Pools have formed in her eyes, and a flood is imminent. The silence has hurt her "Everyone is so mean!" she shouts as the flood begins. I say nothing and smile innocently.

She comes close to me again, and stares into my eyes at a tear-stained reflection. Gently, she begins to toy with one of my ears tracing the outline with her finger.

She begins to tell me all about the trials and tribulations of her day. I listen patiently to her, as she uses my chest as a handkerchief. My chest is soaked with her tears, but I say nothing. I just smile sympathetically at her and silently share her pain.

She finishes telling me about her day and gradually stops crying. We sit in silence for a while, just looking at each other. Finally, she smiles. With her problems out of her system, she is back to her normal cheerful self again.

Getting up to leave, she kisses me on the forehead again and gives me a little squeeze. Her grip is back to normal; the tension gone. She strolls to the door and opens it. As she closes the door gently, she smiles at me, indicating her appreciation of my sympathetic ear. I smile back at her, understanding the role that I have played in easing her pain. Listening to her quick happy footsteps disappear down the hallway, I can't help thinking about how important we teddy bears are.

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