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>At long last, she’s peacefully asleep.
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>It took far longer than expected, but then again, she is very special.
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>Just noticed the time as well; spent roughly three hours to get her to rest.
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>To be honest, it felt much shorter.
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>Not that it matters much, only she does.
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>After all, she is everything.
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>A wistful smile creeps slowly upon your lips.
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>It’s born from the the single solitary thought: she is yours.
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>And no matter what happens, you won’t let anyone – ANYONE – take her away from you.
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>Her barrel rises and falls slowly with each passing breath.
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>She looks much happier this way, so beautiful.
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>If only she could see that truth for herself.
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>Alas, that is a lofty goal.
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>But for now, she has you to see her for what she truly is: a wonder.
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>As much as you want to stay here with her, there are some other matters that must be tended to.
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>You gently close your eyes to withhold a growing pressure inside of your chest.
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>Have to hold it a moment or so, least it cause any trouble.
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>A slow, careful release of breath, and you reopen your eyes to her sleeping form.
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>It’s all that is needed to make it dissipate.
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>So long as you have her, these little problems will never amount to anything.
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>That’s all you need to know.
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>With a small kiss upon the side of her head, you reluctantly leave the room.
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>This home will shelter the two of you from all harm.
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>It’s in here that the world exists.
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>Nothing else exists outside of it.
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>Yet sometimes, you have to go out into the nothing, for her.
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>A quick check of the fiances shows that everything is in order, just as expected.
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>Shouldn’t never need to worry about them, but being careful certainly helps prevent unwanted surprises.
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>Next on the agenda is a letter.
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>With quill and parchment, you get to work on it.
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>Wish writing these were not necessary.
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>Wish for a lot of things, too.
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>If you didn’t do this however, it would cause… trouble.
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>More specifically, certain individuals.
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>Your writing slows to a crawl as you instinctively clench your teeth.
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>It would be better if those individuals weren’t around anymore.
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>But if you were to remove them, it would cause far worse trouble.
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>Which is why you write these stupid silly little letters.
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>Shouldn’t concern yourself further with such thoughts, they’re slowing progress.
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>After all, those individuals are nothing.
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>Once the task is finished, you take a step out into the void, and set the letters in the mailbox.
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>Wait, mailbox?
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>That can’t be right, there’s nothing out here.
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>Has to be your imagination playing tricks on you.
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>After all, it’s just you and her, nothing more, nothing less.
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>Back inside is safe, back inside is her.
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>You retreat within, and turn your attention to something special.
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>Not dinner just yet, but a surprise instead.
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>Practiced skill comes easily as you work on it.
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>She’ll love this, she always does.
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>That’s what your talent is; mending her broken heart.
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>In the not so distant past, others said your talent was something else.
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>They were liars.
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>They were thieves.
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>They wanted to keep her away form you.
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>Nearly slip with your work at that thought.
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>A simple titter uttered recovers enough to correct that.
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>Just have to remember that she is yours.
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>It took so long for that to happen, too long.
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>If it wasn’t for a series of circumstances, she wouldn’t be here with you.
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>But she’s safe now, with you.
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>A fair bit of time has been invested on this gift, but it is ready for when the time comes.
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>Even more so, it was accomplished in a timely manner.
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>Not that you expected otherwise, if it’s for her, it’s always perfectly done and on time.
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>You return to the bedroom where she is.
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>She’s still fast asleep.
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>Good.
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>It’s not as if she is going anywhere, but there’s always this… thought, that she won’t be there.
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>Don’t know why it comes, it shouldn’t exist in the first place.
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>There is nothing outside this home, it is the entire world.
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>And she is at the center of it all.
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>Her beautiful raven mane, those rose tinted eyes, and that wonderful ashen coat.
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>She’ll see what you see someday, just have to keep reminding her of that.
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>Until then, you’ll be here with her, forever.
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>For now, you go work on preparing dinner.
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>Don’t really need it yourself, but you’ll eat anyways.
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>She’s all that you need to live.
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>What to make, though?
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>Ah, a simple stew will suffice.
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>Unfortunately, some of the supplies are low.
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>Which means you’ll have to venture out to get some more.
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>Which means she’ll be here.
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>Alone.
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>Without you.
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>Feel a slight twitch in your eye.
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>Breath, remember her.
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>In.
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>Out.
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>In.
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>Out.
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>There we go, much better.
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>Now then, this meager problem has to be taken care of.
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>You won’t be gone long, but…
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>A small sigh escapes from your mouth.
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>...it hurts all the same.
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>Just be quick about this.
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>With that thought, you depart out into the nothingness.
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>A mess of colors are all around, as well as moving shapes all about.
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>All of these things are useless, all of them are fake.
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>Because the truth is: they are nothing.
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>Some of the forms pass by, some even have sounds.
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>Like in a fantasy, none of that is real.
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>Thankfully, they don’t slow down your journey in the slightest.
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>Long ago, they once did.
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>That was before you took her in, though.
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>The thought is ignored as you reach the destination.
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>This place holds what you need.
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>Correction: what /she/ needs.
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>After all, you only need her.
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>Much like the outside, there are shapes moving about here as well.
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>Could have sworn that something called out your name at some point.
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>However, it wasn’t her voice, so it doesn’t matter.
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>After acquiring the goods, you’re about to leave when a flicker of color from the corner of your eye gives you pause.
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>Something about it feels familiar.
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>Those colors, they are… dark gray, almost black, and… purple?
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>No.
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>It’s not real.
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>It’s not real.
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>It’s not real.
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>Ignore it, go home.
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>With a breath in/out, the color vanishes into a blob like everything else.
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>Smiling, you calmly and casually depart off.
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>There’s a scratching in the back of your mind as you’re walking.
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>Seems more like a voice, or something is trying to get your attention.
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>For some reason, you pick up the pace.
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>Don’t quite know why either.
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>Not important, home is.
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>Home is where it is safe.
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>Home is where she is.
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>Despite that thought, your movements hasten further and further until everything around seems to vanish.
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>Things come back into focus; you’re home.
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>Once safely back inside, the nothing from outside fades away like it always does.
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>The door locks behind you, and a wave of calm washes over you peacefully.
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>There are no more sounds from outside, because there is nothing outside.
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>The only sounds are from within; this is the world, and she is the center.
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>Speaking of which, you go check on her.
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>She’s just as you left her, asleep.
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>Your eyes travel about her body, landing eventually on her legs.
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>Those various marks still adorn them, all from the distant past.
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>Life has been, and always was, hard on her for so very long.
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>That all changed the day you found her out within the nothingness.
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>If was then and there that you realized that your entire life had been a total lie up to that point.
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>All of it was a grand charade; a play on the world’s stage, with faceless masses watching on as you acted out your part.
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>It was… agonizing to do keep doing that day after day.
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>She, much like you, was in so much pain.
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>Now she isn’t suffering anymore, nor are you.
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>But all of that pain could have been avoided had you acted sooner.
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>Does that make you bad?
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>No, there was no way of knowing what was going on.
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>Yet you acted too late.
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>Things were different then, you’re stronger now, you’re-
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>-a monster.
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>The temperature takes a sudden dive, like a winter storm has descended out of nowhere.
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>Even stranger, everything has come to a complete standstill.
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>You focus on her in an attempt to make sense of things.
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>All of her color has faded, and she too is still, almost as if she were… de-
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>NO!
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>Try as you might, nothing seems to budge; from within, from without.
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>Words fail to form in your throat, there’s just a silence.
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>Breath.
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>C-can’t.
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>Breath!
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>Ca-…
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>BREATH!
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>All at once, air rushes into your lungs with such a force that you fall to the ground in a heap.
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>Everything so heavy, vision has turned into a blurred mess.
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>Don’t give up, she NEEDS you.
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>Summoning all that you are, you shakily stand, and find everything back to the way it was.
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>She’s asleep, like nothing happened.
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>More importantly, she is safe.
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>She is alright.
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>She is yours.
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>Just as it should be.
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>Whatever terror occurred never was real, it never is.
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>Because like the outside, it is nothing.
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>It doesn’t matter how many times the forces from there attempt to draw you back out, it will NEVER be real.
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>You take a brief moment to compose yourself, along with a once-over to ensure that everything is place.
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>Don’t like episodes like these, but at least they don’t occur when she’s awake.
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>They’ll come and go, like always.
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>For now, you go work on making dinner.
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>The stew comes together slowly, but surely.
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>As it nears completion, a sound from the other room reaches your ears.
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>Immediately, it’s clear that it’s her that is stirring from her slumber.
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>Shortly thereafter, light hoof falls come from the hallway, to which you steal a quick glance; her mane is a bit of a mess, one that draws a smile from you.
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>She lets out a small yawn that plucks your heartstrings ever so.
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“You’re just in the time, dinner is about to be ready.”
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>She takes a seat at the table with a tiny nod.
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>“...mmhm.”
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>Shortly there after, you finish up, fill two bowls, and join her.
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“Be careful, it’s still hot.”
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>The corner of her mouth raises slightly.
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>“’kay.”
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>It’s not much of a smile, but it might as well be a diamond to you.
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>No, wait, that’s far too inadequate of a description, it’s far more unique and valuable.
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>Nevertheless, it’s precious.
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“So what do you think?”
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>“S’good.”
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>Your smile broadens as you continue to eat your own.
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>Didn’t really need to ask, but getting her to talk is all the more worth it.
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>It’s such things that feeds the joy inside.
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“I’ve got something special to show you after we’re done eating.”
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>“Oh?”
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>You nod eagerly.
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“Take care a guess at what it is.”
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>“Uh… a song?”
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“Indeed. I wrote it while you were sleeping, I think you’ll like it.”
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>“I don’t doubt it, everything you make is great.”
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>Not as great as her.
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>But all the works you create are born from her, as she is your muse.
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>She stops goes to take another spoonful, but stops, and her eyes flicker downwards.
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>Don’t know what that look is, don’t like it.
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>Whatever it is, you need to know right away.
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>Because nothing else matters at the moment.
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>Your entire attention shifts completely to her, and only her.
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“Is something wrong?”
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>She shakes her head lightly.
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>“No… it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
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>That isn’t true.
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>Did you do something wrong?
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>Does she hate you?
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>Why is she hiding?
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>Is she going to leave you?
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>NO, no… just… stop, breath.
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>One silent breath in/out, and everything remains in control.
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>You reach over and gently touch her wither.
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“Hey, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
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>“I know, it’s just…”
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>She lets out a deep sigh, then lets her gaze go to your face; her eyes glitter slightly in the light.
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>“...I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real…”
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>Such an old fear of hers, one that refuses to ever go away.
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>It’s nothing that you cannot handle, though.
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>You rub her shoulder in a calm controlled manner.
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“Eri, all of this is real, and you never have to thank me for it. I will always be there to help you out, no matter what.”
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>Not a total lie, yet still, a small one.
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>So long as it keeps her happy, that it shall persist.
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>Her eyes linger on you for a little while longer, then close softly.
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>Another moment to keep within the vault of your mind forever.
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>As she reopens them, she gives a tiny nod.
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>“Yeah, I know you’re right. Thanks anyway, Connie.”
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“You’re welcome. But please, eat your stew before it gets cold, then afterwords I can show you the song I made.”
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>You let go and the two of you return to eating.
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>At the center of everything is Miss Eri, she is yours.
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>And for you, Connie Amore, that’s all that is, and will be, in your life.
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon