I spent four years.

Hoping that you'd ask me for help. It could have been anything: schoolwork, girls, family issues. I would have jumped at the chance to be your guardian angel. I wanted to help you so badly, but you never needed it. I was always ready to catch you, but you never fell.

Last night, I dreamt that you took me aside. You looked me straight in the eyes and said, "My friends beat me up." Your face was covered in bruises, and you gave me this look that went straight to my heart.

I wanted to hug you. I wanted to take you in my arms, because you looked like you were going to cry. I wanted to let you know that it's okay to shed tears, that you don't always need to be strong. I wanted to comfort you, soothe you, be the help to you that I never was.

But before I could do anything, I woke up.