One Light Burning

"All alone with my fears
No words are spoken
A story yet to be told
Locked in my mind"

---"One Light Burning" by Richie Sambora

He hadn't slept in years. Nights were times of quiet contemplation when the events of the day gained center stage of his thoughts.

Edward rolled over in his sleep and continued snoring softly.

Alphonse couldn't recall the last time he'd slumbered. He supposed it was right before that fateful night his life (and Edward's) changed forever.

Doubts crept in like stealthy burglars. What if Barry had been right? What if none of his memories were real? What if he had never existed until Edward had brought him to life?

If Alphonse could have shed tears, his face would have been awash with them. Instead, he could only sigh inside his suit of armor. All of his fears had come out to play, leaving him feeling overwhelmed.

He had to do something.

Getting up from his seat outside the bedroom window, his armor creaked and groaned. Far above him, the stars glittered the heavens. Sometimes he wished he could be among them instead of dealing with this daily torment of doubts.

A sleepy voice asked, " Al? What are you doing out there?"

Alphonse sighed again.

"I need to talk to you, Brother."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In another city, someone else was awake as well. Things were not going well for Roy. The lies and conspiracies just kept piling up. He had found more questions than answers so far.

Tonight he decided to give it a rest. He was on his second bottle of wine and more than a little bleary-eyed. The books and papers on his cluttered desk kept swimming out of focus.

"Roy, won't you come to bed?" a voice called from his room.

He sighed. There wasn't much else he'd be good for anyway. Not tonight. Rising unsteadily, he stumbled down the short hall to his bed.

Not even bothering to take off his rumpled uniform, he fell heavily onto his mattress.

"Hey, watch it!" a woman's voice yelled.

"Sorry," he mumbled into his pillow.

The bedside lamp clicked off, bathing the room in darkness.

"Good night, Roy." She snuggled up next to him.

"G'night, Riza." He draped a heavy arm over her shoulders and promptly passed out. Whatever answers he sought could just wait until tomorrow.