GREEN
318
0
2737 14.77 KB 292
2737 14.77 KB 292
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>Slowly, you awaken.
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>Head is throbbing, and your vision is blurry.
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>Your whole body is hurting, especially your back.
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>Struggling to move as your head feels like it weighs a ton.
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>As you try to get up, your leg flares up in pain.
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“Fuck!”
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>You pull back, the memories from last night start to return.
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>Carl’s death, leaving the hospital, drinking home alone, and falling apart.
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>It’s so hard to focus.
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>Sitting back down, you examine the damage you inflicted.
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>You struggle, but in the end, you focus enough to see it.
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“Thank Celestia...”
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>Only three cuts, none of them too deep, but enough to hurt like hell.
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>A distant beeping draws your attention.
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>Your alarm clock.
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“Oh shit! What time is it?”
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>As you go to move, you accidentally put pressure on the leg and immediately regret it.
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“Fuck!” You sharply inhale. “Idiot, stop doing that!”
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>Cautiously, you limp to the bedroom to see the time.
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“For fucks sake!”
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>You overslept, not by much, but enough to shorten what little time you had left.
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>Limping back, you run a cold bath in an attempt to clear your head.
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>The cold water freezes you to core and awakens you fully.
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>Gently you clean up your cuts and finish up the bath as fast as possible.
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>You’re trying your best to not cause yourself anymore pain than you already have.
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>Taking care to wrap up the wounds to the best of your ability.
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>Unfortunately, you can barely hide it under your wristband.
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>Wouldn’t take much for somepony to notice.
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“Will have to do, I don’t have time.”
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>As you put more pressure on the leg, you limp along in pain.
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>You hastily empty your bags and replace what ever else you need.
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>Still have some a minute to spare, but not enough to relax.
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>You saddle up, grab your keys and leave the disaster that is your apartment.
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>The bright sun stings your eyes and you stumble a little.
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>Whatever the effects the bath had are barely helping.
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>You know for certain your injury will impede your travel, but you try to hurry.
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>Each step flares up the pain, and you grimace each time.
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>Some ponies try to greet you, but all you can do is a half smile or nod.
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>Slowly you approach the hospital.
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>You don’t bother to stop like usual.
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>Instead you just keep repeating the words to yourself like some mad mare.
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“Do it for them Rest, do it for the patients.”
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>As you enter through the doors, you don’t bother acknowledge anypony.
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>Just have to hurry to the locker room before you’re late.
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>Seeing the nearby clock shows you have a little time to get your stuff away.
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>You barely manage to get your uniform on before Betty comes in.
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>”Rest we-”
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>Before she can continue you cut her off.
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“We will talk later alright? Just not right now.”
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>Betty looks hurt, but nods slowly.
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>”Okay, at lunch then?”
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>Without missing a beat, you nod back and head off to the group.
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>Head hurts, leg hurts, and your heart is pounding.
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>You take a moment to get yourself under control.
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>”Deep Rest, here’s your assignment.”
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>As you take the papers, you look them over.
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>Same as usual, with one exception.
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>Carl’s name is gone, and it makes your heart sink.
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>Can’t let that get to you right now, no.
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>It would get in the middle of helping others.
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>You limp along to examination.
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>A mare and her filly are your first to look over.
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>The mother gives you a brief run down of the problem.
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>Though from experience you know its best to ask the patient directly.
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“How are you feeling?”
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>She looks tired, but she coughs before talking in a small voice.
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>”My tummy hurts.”
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>She’s so cute, it helps lift your spirits.
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“Okay, well I’m going to take your temperature and then the doctor will see you. Is that okay?”
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>She nods and things go by smoothly.
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>You know today will be long.
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>At least it’s the last day of the work week.
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>Each examination goes by without hassle.
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>And before long, you go onto checking in with patients.
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>Sky is first on the list, so you pick up the pace.
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>You leg still hurts, and you’re still limping a little.
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>You need to know he is okay.
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>As you enter his room you see Mr. and Mrs. Light talking.
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>Sky is half out of it, but he gives you a small smile.
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>”Hi Rest.”
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>He sounds quite groggy, but looks a little better.
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>His parent stop talking and look over to you.
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>Mr. Light looks tired like his wife, with everything they go through, you’re not surprised.
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>>”Hello Nurse Rest, good to see you.”
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>While he isn’t there much, he does try to show up when he can.
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“Hello Mr. Light, good to see you as well.”
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>You pick up the chart and look it over.
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>Releasing a breath you didn’t know you were holding in, you feel more at ease.
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>He is improving, slowly, but it’s better than nothing.
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>Won’t be released anytime soon, but he will likely make a full recovery.
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“So, how are you feeling Sky?”
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>You start to write down the information as he talks.
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>”I’m still really tired, mom said you came by yesterday.”
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>Readings are stable, good.
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“Yes I did, though you were asleep the past two times I’ve been here.”
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>Sky gives a small frown, but continues.
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>”I’m sorry, I’m so tired.”
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>Not that you blame him, he’s been through a lot.
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“It’s okay Sky, you needed sleep to get better.”
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>He nods slowly and starts to talk again.
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>”Yeah, bu-” He begins to cough violently.
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>A quick flash of fear from yesterday hits you.
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>Training takes over and you reach him.
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>From the corner of your eye, you can see his parents looking on in worry.
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>When these happen, you can’t show your fear to the patients.
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>’You can’t save everypony.’
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>I will try at the very least.
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>His eyes bug out and he motions to you for something.
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>Immediately you grab a nearby pan and hoof it over to him.
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>Very quickly he empty's the contents of his stomach into it.
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>You gently rub his back and assist him.
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>Eventually, he gets himself back under control.
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“It’s alright, that’s normal, better?”
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>He can’t talk yet, instead he nods.
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“Well, I’ll let you rest. Be good for your parents Sky.”
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>Though he doesn’t say anything, he smiles.
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>As you’re leaving, his father stops you outside of the room.
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>>”Nurse?”
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>You turn to him while Mrs. Light tends to Sky.
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“Yes?”
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>He takes a moment, then continues.
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>>”I want to thank you for helping my son.”
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>You feel a bit surprised.
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>While you do hear this often, it sometimes catches you off guard.
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>>”You and the rest of the staff have done so much for us, so I really do mean thank you.”
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>You feel yourself smile, hopefully you can find some peace today.
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“You’re welcome.”
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>You look to Sky and his mother, he has started talking with her.
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>>”I wish I could be here more for him, but my work keeps me busy.”
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>Not too surprising, can’t imagine him fairing better than his wife.
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>You look back to Mr. Light, and nod.
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“You’re here now, that is what matters. You do a lot of him, and we do as much as we can as well.”
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>He slowly nods, and smiles.
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>>”Yeah, I know.” He shakes his head. “Sorry, I shouldn’t keep you, take care.”
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“It’s okay, and to you as well Mr. Light.”
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>Trotting off to do more of your rounds, you still have a small limp.
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>But your heart feels a little lighter.
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>Some new patients, some you recognize from earlier in the week from examinations.
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>For the most part, everything is well.
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>You finish up, and head to lunch.
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>This past week, you haven’t eaten much.
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>And that is coming back to bite you now.
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>Your stomach growls loudly.
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>Honestly, you don’t care what they’re serving.
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>You just grab the first thing you see.
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>Sitting down, you dig in and don’t notice Betty joining you.
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>”Hungry Rest?”
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>Pausing, you realize that you are eating loudly.
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“Sorry, I’ve been skipping meals, so there’s the first thing to talk about.”
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>She looks not all that surprised.
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>Sighing, she starts.
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>”I was afraid you would say that.”
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>You talk in between eating.
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“It’s been a long and stressful week. I skipped out because I couldn’t eat.”
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>Betty looks a bit angry.
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>”I see that. You left yesterday before we could talk.”
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>Deep down, you’re certain that you left early intentionally to avoid her.
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>Before you can respond, she continues.
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>”I heard what happened, and I’m sorry that he passed.”
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>Your appetite falls, so you stop and stare at her.
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>”There was nothing you could do Rest, it was old age. No pony, not even Celestia herself, could’ve stopped what happened.”
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>You know she is right, but that doesn’t stop you from feeling terrible.
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>Sighing, you rub your temples.
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“Yeah.”
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>”I came over as quick as I could after work.”
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>Instantly, you freeze.
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>Why didn’t you hear her?
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>”I knocked, but you didn’t answer.”
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>You probably were passed out by then.
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>”Rest, could you tell me what happened?”
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>No, you shouldn’t.
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>Taking a moment, you fight with yourself.
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>On one hoof, she is trying to help.
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>On the other, you’re risking her finding out about your problem.
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>Looking back to Betty, you can see she has a pleading look on her face.
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>You blink slowly and sigh.
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“I’ll explain myself after work, I’ll show you.”
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>You have to let somepony in eventually.
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>Even if it hurts, you cannot shut yourself off.
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>”Okay then, I will literally buck down your door this time if you run off.”
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>You share a laugh, it’s been a bit.
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“Alright, I promise mom.”
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>She smirks.
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>”Well, time to finish off the day then?”
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>You nod and get up with her to take care of your garbage.
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>The rest of your shift goes smoothly.
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>More vitals taken down, some equipment changed, and of course talking.
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>Your heart is still hurting from yesterday.
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>In time, you will get over it, like the many times before.
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>As your about to go write up your reports, a mare stops you.
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>”Excuse me, but are you Nurse Rest?”
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>It takes you a moment, but you recognize her.
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>It’s Carl’s granddaughter.
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“Yes I am, you must be Spring Steel.”
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>She smiles, and nods.
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>Her icy blue eyes are something she shares with Carl.
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>”That’s me, Grandpa talked about you before.” Her smile fades a little. “He told me about how you would listen to his many stories.”
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>It hurts to hear this, but maybe this is fate’s way of helping you.
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“Mhm, he told me quite a few actually.”
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>It’s now, that you notice that there is pain in her eyes.
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>As she sighs, her smile returns, albeit a bit smaller.
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>”I know we haven’t spoken before, but I wanted to thank you for being there with him. It meant a lot to have somepony listen to him.”
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>Your eyes moisten, but you try to resist.
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>Your voice almost gives as well.
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“It’s fine, you’re welcome.”
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>She tilts her head a second before she has a look of understanding.
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>”I miss him, and I can see that you do as well.”
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>Can’t really fight back these tears much longer, nor the pain in your heart.
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“Yes, yes I do.”
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>Spring closes her eyes and reopens them slowly, slightly more teary.
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>”It may be a lot of me to ask this, but maybe we can hang out sometime? I’d like to have somepony to talk with about Grandpa.”
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>You say no words and nod instead.
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>Her voice quivers a second.
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>”Thank you again, I must be going. Have a lot to do today.”
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>Your own voice fails you.
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>Everything hurts again.
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>You make your way back to finishing up your day.
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>It’s hard to do paperwork, but you manage somehow.
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>Your leg still hurts, and it’s going to be hard to explain it easily to Betty.
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>Speaking of which, she is waiting by your locker as you enter.
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“Hey.”
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>She sees the look on your face and a look of concern forms.
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>”Did something else happen today?”
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“Nothing bad, I met Spring Steel, Carl’s granddaughter.”
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>She breaths out a sigh and relaxes a little.
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>”Had me worried for a second, but I’m hoping the meeting between you two went well.”
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>It helped in some way.
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“Mhm, we talked and she asked me if we could hangout sometime. She thanked me for being there for Carl.”
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>You look down.
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>Some tears escape, and Betty touches your wither.
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>”It’s going to be alright Rest. I’ll let you get your things, then we can talk.”
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>A small part of you is screaming no.
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>It keeps saying that she will think you’re crazy.
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>It doesn’t matter, if anypony is going to find out.
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>You’d rather it be Betty.
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>Grabbing your things, the two of you leave the hospital.
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>As you trot to your apartment, she tries to talk to you.
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>”So?”
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“I’ve told you almost everything already. Like I said earlier, I will show you when I get home.”
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>She scrunches her face up, and lets go with a nod.
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>”Alright, fair enough.”
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>The two of you reach your home and enter.
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>You don’t bother to say anything.
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>Instead you walk over to the couch and drop your things.
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>Slowly, you turn to her.
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>You didn’t have time to clean up today, and now she sees it all.
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>Her eyes are going all over the place.
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>Pieces of the broken bottle lay against the wall.
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>Empty bottles on the table and an empty case.
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>You sit down and wait for her to talk.
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>Minutes pass, and eventually she starts.
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>”I had no idea it got this bad, but I should’ve.”
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>You feel some shame, but not much else.
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“You’re not a mind reader. I hid it from you.”
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>Betty shakes her head and looks a bit angry.
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>With you? No, with herself.
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>”I knew I should’ve been literal on bucking your damn door down.”
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>You give a halfhearted smile.
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“My neighbors would’ve called the guards and things would’ve gotten a lot worse.”
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>”Rest, I know you’re in pain, but this is too much.”
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>Your heart hurts more now.
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>Guess you shouldn’t have told her.
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>Before you say anything she approaches you.
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>”I mean you let too much happen to you alone, we’re supposed to be friends. You let yourself hurt this much without telling me?”
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>You look down and back up at her.
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“Yes.”
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>She gawks at you for a second, then releases a sigh.
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>Betty sits in front of you and face hoofs.
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>”You don’t have to fight this alone, you should never have to do that as long as you have a friend.”
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>With those words, you come apart at last.
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>Tears flow freely and you sob.
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>Your eyes are shut tightly and you feel Betty wrap her legs around you in a hug.
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>As she holds you, she whispers the words.
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>”Everything is going to be okay Rest, we will get through this.”
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>No point in hiding anymore.
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>You pull back, remove your wristband and your bandage to show her.
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>Her eyes widen and she is stares at the cuts.
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>Your heart beats hard in fear.
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>The wait is killing you.
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>Betty looks back at you and her voice is shaky.
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>”I wish you had told me sooner.” She gives you a gentle squeeze. “We will get you through this Rest, I promise.”
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>No words escape, and you hug her again.
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>You’re crying, but not because your in pain.
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>It’s because you’re happy you have a friend to help you.
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>You should never suffer alone.
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon