Rating: PG-13
Warning: Angst
Characters: Franz, Eugenie, Albert

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

There is a perpetual sadness in his eyes

She sees

Through the forced smile and cheerful countenance

She sees

Pain and long suffering

Silent all these years

She knows that he knows that the other knows not how he feels

And he cries inside

But she sees and she speaks

He starts and looks surprised a flush on his cheeks

You know, he says

I see, she smiles and reaches for his hands

Cold yet strong

They tremble in her grasp but she holds on tightly

For she knows that he knows it's an emotion that will never be returned

At least not in the way that he wishes it to be

Will you tell him, she pleads

Let him know

He is young and foolish and easily persuaded

And he smiles

A sad and lonely smile

And he says its no use for the other has taken his soul

Then you are just as foolish she says and lets him go

And he lowers his lashes and he fights back the tears

For his voice is close

The one he loves

Full of gaiety and mirth and praise

For the other who is worldly wise and mature and handsome and strange not of this world

And he remains in the shadows and watches from afar

At how much his friend has changed over the past few years

And he smiles

A sad and lonely smile

And he wishes him all the best for that is all he could ever want

And he would die for him if need be...

For that was the true power of his love