/emo/ Eri's week, chp 2


                                            >They just finished up wrapping your foreleg in bandages and have brought you to a room.

                                            >You watch as Rest and a doctor are talking.

                                            >While you can’t hear what they are saying, their expressions are telling.

                                            >’You’re insane you know. They’re talking about putting you away. In a cell, like you deserve.’

                                            >No.

                                            >’Fight all you want, but you know I’m not wrong.’

                                            >Go away please.

                                            >Rest approaches you with a smile, though your fear tells you otherwise.

                                            >”How are you feeling?”

                                            “Okay, my head hurts a little, but I’ll manage. Can I go home now?”

                                            >Her smile falters for a moment, it speaks volumes.

                                            >”I’m afraid not, they have to keep you overnight for observation.”

                                            >Your heart has started to beat faster.

                                            “But Rest, I can’t stay here.”

                                            >The smile has faded to a neutral look, but kindness still lies in her eyes.

                                            >”Eri, you had multiple injuries. Other than the cuts, there was a concussion. You’re lucky I found you when I did.”

                                            >She is accusing you isn’t she?

                                            “I told you it was an accident, why don’t you believe me?”

                                            >”Yeah you have, but the hospital doesn’t see it that way. I already pulled some strings to let you out tomorrow.”

                                            >She did what? How?

                                            “Rest, why, how?”

                                            >”I promise to explain more later, but first I have to talk to my boss. I will be spending the night by your side here. We will get through this together Eri.”

                                            >She says that, but the words feel hollow.

                                            “Alright, don’t be long. Okay?” You sigh.

                                            >Rest smiles. “I’ll try to be as fast as possible, but I will be right back.”

                                            >As she leaves you to this room, you’re left alone, again.

                                            >The whole place screams sterile, you’re not certain how anypony recovers in these places.

                                            >Looking down at your foreleg once more, it hurts a little. Although it is wrapped now, you can still feel the cuts just below.


                                            >Your head isn’t feeling much better, a small lump is on it from the tub.

                                            >They couldn’t give you serious pain killers because of the cuts, they want you to suffer.

                                            >This so was stupid of you, should’ve just cut once and be done with it. But you couldn’t, you didn’t and now look at you.

                                            >No point in dwelling on it, you’re stuck here.

                                            >The pounding hasn’t let up either, it’s making your eyes heavy.

                                            >You’re pretty certain you shouldn’t sleep because of the concussion. Though if that were the case, they wouldn’t have left you alone, right?

                                            >Trying to distract yourself, you sit up to look out to the window.

                                            >The sky is a deep blue, some stars have come out, you’re not sure what time it is.

                                            >Wait a moment, don’t these places have clocks? Look around, you see one on the wall. It says 8:47 pm.

                                            >Hard to believe that you were out for hours, but Rest says you were.

                                            >Guess you got brain damage or something.

                                            >’Wouldn’t be much of a stretch, you’re already crazy.’

                                            >Not again, not now, go to hell.

                                            >’You’re alone, like always. They always leave, you can never escape that.’

                                            >That’s not true, Rest says she will help me and she is here now.

                                            >’And you believe her lies? Remember that her words didn’t save you from earlier.’

                                            >That’s all it took to fuel the anger in your heart.

                                            >No. It has helped before, you’re the liar here.

                                            >’You will see in time.’

                                            >Fuck off.

                                            >Silence.

                                            >Get it together Eri. You’re losing it again.

                                            >You shake your head in attempt to focus, only for it hurt.

                                            “Fuck! Stupid, why did I do that?.”

                                            >The pounding has increased and so has the pressure on your eyes.

                                            >Maybe you should rest them a moment. Although it’s just moment, but you don’t feel yourself pass out.

                                            >A gentle nudging awakens you from your rest, but you don’t open your eyes.


                                            >“Eri, time to get up.” Says a soft voice.

                                            “Mom is that you? Can I stay home today? I don’t feel so good.” You groggily say.

                                            >”Sorry Eri, but it’s me, Rest.” She says with a giggle.

                                            >Your eyes shoot open, and you attempt to sit up quickly before she reaches out to you.

                                            >”Easy there, you shouldn’t move too fast.”

                                            >Head still hurts, not as much though.

                                            “Sorry, I didn’t even know I passed out.”

                                            >”It’s alright. When I came back last night, I found you fast asleep, but I promise I was here the whole time.” She crosses her chest with her hoof.

                                            >It makes you smile a little before you decide to ask her.

                                            “So can I go home now?”

                                            >”Yes, and I will help you home. I figured you would want to leave early, so that’s why I tried to wake you.”

                                            >Feeling a small bit of relief, you take a moment to answer her.

                                            “Thank Celestia, I can’t wait to go home.”

                                            >Rest nods and stands back a little from the bed to give you some space.

                                            >Slowly, you climb out and set your hooves on the cold floor. Rest helping you each step of the way.

                                            >A thought hits you, so you ask Rest.

                                            “What about paperwork? Don’t I have to fill some kind of release form?”

                                            >”Like I told you last night, I pulled some strings and did it myself.”

                                            “Oh, but I thought I had to do it?”

                                            >”Eri, let me worry about that, and lets get you home.”

                                            >She’s not wrong, you would rather not stay here any long than you already have.

                                            >You nod for her to continue as you both go into the hallway.

                                            >Passing by a number of rooms, you can see various patients and staff. You don’t envy them.

                                            >It doesn’t take long to reach the outside and when you do. The bright light hurts your eyes.

                                            >A reminder of how often you stay indoors.

                                            >The walk home is slow, you pass by some ponies, who look concerned. Can feel their judging stares upon you.


                                            >Rest hasn’t really said much other than ‘Easy, take your time’ or ‘Feeling alright?’

                                            >While you enjoy this company, your not one for small talk.

                                            >You’d tell her, but you’re afraid of pushing her away.

                                            >The house is still the same as you left it. Looking abandoned and in need of repair.

                                            >As you both approach the front door, you can make out some hoof marks on it.

                                            >A quick flash of yesterday’s events course through your mind, and you try to push them out. In the process, you let out a whimper as a pain ignites in your chest.

                                            >Rest noticing your distress, quickly leads you inside and onto the couch.

                                            >”Shh, it’s alright, I’m here with you. Just breath Eri.” She rubs your wither.

                                            >While it does help a little, that doesn’t solve the problem.

                                            >You have to tell her something.

                                            >’You tell her, and she will leave you.’

                                            >FUCK OFF.

                                            “Rest, I want to tell you about yesterday.”

                                            >She looks surprised, but ready to accept your confession.

                                            >”Sure, take as much time as you need. Remember, you don’t have to hide anything from me.”

                                            >Rest joins you on the couch and nods for you to continue.

                                            >Taking a moment to gather your words and courage, you hope she will understand.

                                            “I admit it, I did cut myself. However, I did not try to kill myself. I know I’m weak and helpless, but it wasn’t supposed to go that far. When I tried to cut again, I accidentally cut deeper. The pain just caused me to flail and hit my head.”

                                            >”You’re not weak Eri, you just haven’t found your strength yet. I know you will eventually.” She says in an attempt to reassure you.

                                            “It’s not just that, an old face from my past came over after you left yesterday. I lost control when we talked.”

                                            >A look of concern crosses her face.

                                            >The events are still fresh in your mind and you breath a little harder.


                                            >”Take deep breaths, it will help. Are you saying she did this to you?”

                                            “It was the memories, it all came back to me at once. It was all too much for me.” You whimper out.

                                            >”It’s alright Eri, are you comfortable with telling me about what happened during this exchange?”

                                            >Attempting to summon more strength, you nod and gather a breath.

                                            “I can tell you a little, not everything, not yet.”

                                            >”That’s more than fair, go on.”

                                            >Fresh tears cascade down your face.

                                            “She came by claiming to want to be friends again, but I know better. She had no right. I slammed the door in her face, and she tried to buck it down. It was there that I broke apart.”

                                            >”I’m no therapist, but it sounds like it triggered a traumatic episode. She shouldn’t try to break down the door. It was the first thing I saw when I got here, so I ran in.”

                                            >No surprise there, you’re all kinds of fucked up.

                                            “Ye-yeah, no doubt. Thank you for listening to me.”

                                            >”You’ve made a lot of progress so far. So, how about we get something to eat, then we can talk more if you’re feeling up to it.” She offers up.

                                            >Slowly, you get control of your crying with the help of Rest.

                                            “Okay, I’d like that.” To be honest, you’re really hungry.

                                            >Shortly after lunch you both head back to the living room.

                                            >It’s here you realize that she hasn’t left for work.

                                            “Wait a second, aren’t you supposed to be at work? Did I make you late?”

                                            >You’re starting to panic, great going dipshit, you’re going to make her lose her job.

                                            >”Calm down Eri, I can explain like I said I would. When I talked with my boss last night, I put in for some time off. He didn’t like that it was such short notice, but I convinced him that is was an emergency. I’ve done so much for the hospital, so I had to address that as well to get my point across.”


                                            >She really does care about you.

                                            >A soft knocking kills the moment and replaces it with fear.

                                            >”I’ll go answer that, just stay here, okay?”

                                            >You know who it is, of this you are certain.

                                            “Rest! No, don’t answer it!”

                                            >She looks at you with concern.

                                            >“It’s alright Eri, I can handle this, I promise.”

                                            >Turning back to the door she opens it, your fear is confirmed.

                                            >”Hi, how can I help you?” Rest asks.

                                            >>”Hello, is Miss Eri home? I need to speak to her, it’s very important.”

                                            >Spying form the couch, you can see that Rest is attempting to block the door way.

                                            >”Can we talk outside?”

                                            >>”Yes of course.”

                                            >What is she doing?

                                            >The door closes behind her.

                                            >You can’t hear what’s going on, you have to know, so you head by the window to listen.

                                            >>”What is this all about? Is Eri home? Who are you?”

                                            >”I’m her friend, are you the one she told me about yesterday?”

                                            >Don’t do this Rest, she doesn’t need to know.

                                            >>”I’m not sure what she told you, but we are friends, we grew up together in fact. I really need to talk to her, it’s a private matter, so do you mind letting me see her?”

                                            >Of course you do, you just want to hurt me again.

                                            >”I might not know the full story, but I can’t let you see her.”

                                            >>”And why not? What has happened to her? Tell me.”

                                            >”I have half a mind to get a hold of the guards after what I heard.”

                                            >>”Now hold on a second! You have no right to accuse me! I admit that I let myself get out of control, but I did not touch her.”

                                            >She’s not wrong, but that didn’t stop her from tormenting you.

                                            >”You tried to buck this door down, and don’t tell you didn’t. You can see the marks, can’t you?”

                                            >>Connie’s voice falters a bit. “I know I did, and I’m sorry about that, but you don’t understand. Please, I need to see Eri. At least one last time.”


                                            >Is she crying? You’d peek out the window, but you don’t want to be seen.

                                            >It’s silent for a moment, Rest sighs and starts to talk.

                                            >”How about you come over tomorrow, then we can see about that, okay?”

                                            >>”Tomorrow? Okay, can you at least tell me why?” You think you heard her sniffle.

                                            >”I can’t go into details, I need to talk to her about this. If you really are her friend, then you will understand.”

                                            >>”Thank you, I, I have to go now.”

                                            >You can’t believe this.

                                            >’I told you, but you didn’t listen. They all betray you.’

                                            >You feel frozen solid, it’s true. Isn’t it?

                                            >The sound of the door opening snaps you out of it.

                                            >”Eri? What are you doing there?”

                                            >Turning to your friend, no, traitor, you feel a combination of anger and terror.

                                            “Why? Why are you doing this to me? You want her to torment me again?!” You accuse her.

                                            >”Now hold on second Eri.”

                                            “No! It was bad enough when I was a foal! I don’t want to see her!”

                                            >”Eri listen to me! I said I would help you didn’t I? I will be there with you every step of the way, right by your side. If it gets too much, she can leave and you will never see her again. I swear it on our friendship.”

                                            >Other than yesterday, this is the second time you’ve seen her get this upset.

                                            “I, yes, yes you did. Okay Rest, if you think it will help.”

                                            >She seems to calm down and slowly approaches you.

                                            >”It’s okay, I know it’s a lot to take in. I know I keep saying it, but we will get through this together.”

                                            >She offers up a hug, and you take it without thought.

                                            >As evening rolls in, you can’t escape your dread.

                                            >Rest keeps trying to lift your spirits, but it helps little.

                                            >At dinner, she had made some soup

                                            >”I know it’s not much, but I can’t cook worth shit.”

                                            >You laugh a little, she is trying.

                                            “I don’t mind, I can’t cook either. Somehow made eggs into charcoal.”


                                            >After dinner you’re starting to feel tired, and you notice so is Rest.

                                            “Are you staying the night?”

                                            >She looks at you like you grew a second head.

                                            >”Well yeah, I keep telling you right by your side. Remember I said that I applied for time off?”

                                            >That’s right, she did you moron.

                                            “Ye-yeah, sorry. I forgot, I’m stupid.”

                                            >”You’re not stupid, just stressed is all.” She says with a smile.

                                            >Helping you to your room, she tucks you in bed.

                                            >It’s been so long since mom did that, you miss her, and feel your eyes moisten.

                                            >Rest, misunderstanding your sadness, tries to alleviate it.

                                            >”It’s okay, everything will work out tomorrow. If you need anything at all, I’ll be on the couch. So don’t hesitate to get me, okay?”

                                            “Mhm, thank you for everything Rest. Goodnight Rest.”

                                            >She gives you a gentle hug before moving to the door.

                                            >”Goodnight, Eri.”

                                            >For once, sleep takes you quickly.