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Your Deep Rest

By NHanon
Created: 2023-01-22 16:00:07
Expiry: Never

  1. 1.
    “Finally…”
  2. 2.
    >The door squeaks quietly as it shuts behind you.
  3. 3.
    >Today was… difficult, like many days are.
  4. 4.
    >It seems as though that those have become more common as time has gone on.
  5. 5.
    >But here at home, everything can finally unwind properly.
  6. 6.
    >That’s easier for some, for others, like yourself, certain things aid in that.
  7. 7.
    >Had to make a pit stop on the way here, but it was necessary.
  8. 8.
    >Without it however, well…
  9. 9.
    >You take a seat, open one elixir, then take a deep drink.
  10. 10.
    >A refreshing vigor flows throughout as it makes its home in your gut.
  11. 11.
    >Everything starts to come into focus, just like it should, and always does.
  12. 12.
    >Had a lot of time to think today.
  13. 13.
    >The past.
  14. 14.
    >The present.
  15. 15.
    >The future.
  16. 16.
    >All of it.
  17. 17.
    >Currently, sitting on the table on the table in front of you, is a combination of all three parts.
  18. 18.
    >A simple white cap.
  19. 19.
    >Stitched upon it, is a red cross.
  20. 20.
    >Medicine is an ongoing war in the cycle of life and death.
  21. 21.
    >Treating injuries, illnesses, and/or outright preventing any of them altogether is seemingly without end.
  22. 22.
    >The study into this field has taken the better part of your life.
  23. 23.
    >Yet no matter the expense (great or small), giving everypony a chance to live on is a worthy cost.
  24. 24.
    >Although your contributions are small, they go a long way to saving many ponies.
  25. 25.
    >Every little bit adds up, which adds to the greater whole.
  26. 26.
    >Your interest into medicine was born from an early age.
  27. 27.
    >Suppose now is as good as any time to take a trip down memory lane.
  28. 28.
    >There’s some resistance in the way however.
  29. 29.
    >Another deep drink melts that wall away.
  30. 30.
    >Back then, when you were a little filly, things were different, much more different from other ponies your age.
  31. 31.
    >Sure, you still possessed the innocence of youth, or rather, the ignorance that exists at that time.
  32. 32.
    >But unlike other foals, happiness was in short supply.
  33. 33.
    >It was not as though your parents were cruel.
  34. 34.
    >Nor were there any pony outside of your family that acted in vile ways against you either.
  35. 35.
    >At the source of everything, was one thing.
  36. 36.
    >Your father was very sickly.
  37. 37.
    >That made just about everything tough to deal with.
  38. 38.
    >Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t do much of the way of work.
  39. 39.
    >Furthermore, his time spent with you barely amounted to just listening while he lay in bed.
  40. 40.
    >Ignorance made things hard to understand, but even in spite of it, you knew something wasn’t right about it.
  41. 41.
    >Every other dad was different from yours; more alive, more able, and generally, just more of what dad is supposed to be.
  42. 42.
    >Your dad however… wasn’t any of that.
  43. 43.
    >That didn’t stop him from doing what he could otherwise.
  44. 44.
    >Sadly, that never added up to much.
  45. 45.
     
  46. 46.
    >Both of your parents tried to give you all the love and attention possible, though.
  47. 47.
    >But him being so sickly, that always bothered you at the time.
  48. 48.
    >Ignorance kept you innocent and protected, well, it *mostly* did.
  49. 49.
    >Because it would eventually be lost.
  50. 50.
    >Time would catch up, forcing you to grow up, with or without your consent.
  51. 51.
    >Growing up is apart of the cycle of life.
  52. 52.
    >What aided in those changes was a feeling that was alien to you at the time.
  53. 53.
    >Took till years later to understood what it was.
  54. 54.
    >Empathy.
  55. 55.
    >Pure, simple, empathy.
  56. 56.
    >The pain from dad’s illness, his frustration from his lack of ability to fight back, and lack of what he should be able to do as a father.
  57. 57.
    >All of that was felt, always during those times.
  58. 58.
    >Many others experience empathy, so it is far from unique to you.
  59. 59.
    >Yet even so, it feels as if you are alone in the feeling.
  60. 60.
    >They likely hide it for one reason or another.
  61. 61.
    >Like mom did.
  62. 62.
    >Your family was sinking beneath the surface of the waters of life, and she did what she could to keep you all from drowning.
  63. 63.
    >Due to dad’s condition, she had to take on two jobs.
  64. 64.
    >That often lead to little time spent with her.
  65. 65.
    >The stress from it all has always aged her more than anypony else her age.
  66. 66.
    >Despite all of her attempts to conceal her feelings from you, she couldn’t hide everything.
  67. 67.
    >Whether it be when she was alone with dad, or when she believed she was alone, period, she would shed many tears as quietly as she could.
  68. 68.
    >In turn, that drew tears form you as you listened on.
  69. 69.
    >You had hope that dad would get better someday.
  70. 70.
    >Such hope was gravely misplaced, because eventually, he couldn’t work anymore, and became completely bedridden.
  71. 71.
    >As a result, mom became even more absent.
  72. 72.
    >Friends of your family were frequently helping take care of you.
  73. 73.
    >Didn’t like that.
  74. 74.
    >Never liked it.
  75. 75.
    >You were young.
  76. 76.
    >You were innocent.
  77. 77.
    >You were decaying away, like the rest of your family.
  78. 78.
    >Because after all, that is how the cycle of life and death work.
  79. 79.
    >Time keeps that fact absolute, without fail.
  80. 80.
    >This trip down memory lane is growing all the more uncomfortable by the moment.
  81. 81.
    >Aren’t you supposed to be unwinding, and NOT working yourself up?
  82. 82.
    >A part of you says yes.
  83. 83.
    >A part of you says no.
  84. 84.
    >It’s indecision then.
  85. 85.
    >Have to make a choice on what to do.
  86. 86.
    >You finish your drink, and with it, things continue on as they were.
  87. 87.
    >Memories continue forth.
  88. 88.
    >Extremely painful ones.
  89. 89.
    >On one fateful day, in the long gone past, a blizzard raged across the countryside.
  90. 90.
    >Within your family home, a storm raged inside too.
  91. 91.
    >Dad’s illness had taken a turn for the worse.
  92. 92.
    >Mom was stranded elsewhere due to the storm.
  93. 93.
    >You however, were alone at home with dad.
  94. 94.
    >A friend was supposed to come to help.
  95. 95.
    >That friend couldn’t come.
  96. 96.
    >The blizzard did everything in its power to prevent any and everything from assisting your family.
  97. 97.
     
  98. 98.
    >You did what you could with what little you had.
  99. 99.
    >There had been times before where you had to take care of him alone, so you thought nothing of it.
  100. 100.
    >That was wrong.
  101. 101.
    >Your help wasn’t enough.
  102. 102.
    >It never would be.
  103. 103.
    >It never could be.
  104. 104.
    >It was just inevitable.
  105. 105.
    >That is the cycle of life and death.
  106. 106.
    >Dad’s face was reddened by a fierce fever, and his breathing was heavy, erratic; his coat mattered with sweat, and his eyes swollen shut.
  107. 107.
    >You gave him medicine, changed out the washcloths frequently, and even uttered silent prayers.
  108. 108.
    >All of that effort was for naught.
  109. 109.
    >Dad needed to go to the hospital, badly.
  110. 110.
    >He needed help, yet none could come.
  111. 111.
    >The storm outside and within, all ensured what was to come.
  112. 112.
    >Can’t forget how that day felt like it lasted a lifetime.
  113. 113.
    >It is permanently scared onto your very being.
  114. 114.
    >You were completely, and utterly helpless to do anything for dad.
  115. 115.
    >All you could do, was just be there to suffer.
  116. 116.
    >Tears could not burn away the sight.
  117. 117.
    >Screams did not end the all horrific sounds made.
  118. 118.
    >Don’t know when exactly he passed, but it mattered little.
  119. 119.
    >For when he died, so did a piece of you too.
  120. 120.
    >Everything was numb.
  121. 121.
    >There was seemingly just nothing there.
  122. 122.
    >But somehow, you still existed at the end of everything.
  123. 123.
    >For the storm eventually did subside enough for somepony to come along.
  124. 124.
    >They found you cuddled up to dad, though you don’t actually remember any of that.
  125. 125.
    >Everything felt like it was all a terrible dream.
  126. 126.
    >If only it was.
  127. 127.
    >Spent many years to heal enough to function from that day.
  128. 128.
    >At this moment, there is just nothing.
  129. 129.
    >No tears crawl down your face from the past.
  130. 130.
    >No words to speak of from those events.
  131. 131.
    >There is just here, you being in your home.
  132. 132.
    >You fiddle with your necklace a moment, then go to take a drink, but find the bottle empty.
  133. 133.
    >Don’t remember finishing it.
  134. 134.
    >Actually, don’t remember finishing the other empty containers either.
  135. 135.
    >Not important, it’s fine.
  136. 136.
    >It always is.
  137. 137.
    >You open a fresh one, and let the contents sooth everything else further.
  138. 138.
    >Warmth blossoms throughout, as well as a general sense of clarity.
  139. 139.
    >This is a treatment for you, just another form of recovery.
  140. 140.
    >Some say this is bad to do, but they are not you, not that they ever could be.
  141. 141.
    >You know when enough is enough.
  142. 142.
    >You always do.
  143. 143.
     
  144. 144.
    >Your study into medicine is proof enough of that.
  145. 145.
    >Mom did help out where she could, though she mostly was just there as support.
  146. 146.
    >Should probably go check in with her sometime soon.
  147. 147.
    >Not for a lack of trying, it’s just that you’re busy with work.
  148. 148.
    >Virtually all of your being is invested into saving as many lives as possible.
  149. 149.
    >After all, you are the head nurse at the hospital.
  150. 150.
    >Could very easily switch to being a doctor, but you prefer this path.
  151. 151.
    >Every joke exchanged, and the common casual conversations had; the strengthened bonds, all of that and more, that is what keeps you where you are.
  152. 152.
    >Faces and names are memorized, as are many other things with each patient.
  153. 153.
    >Just about every aspect of this career is loved.
  154. 154.
    >Naturally, there are parts to hate.
  155. 155.
    >Again, this is like the cycle of life and death; one cannot exist without the other.
  156. 156.
    >Although you don’t hate the latter entirely, losing patients makes it difficult not to.
  157. 157.
    >Medicine cannot save everypony.
  158. 158.
    >When they inevitably fall, and they will for one reason or another, it hits… hard.
  159. 159.
    >Those points are among the worst to experience.
  160. 160.
    >A scalpel cuts deeply into your heart, which prompts to take another sip of your drink in response.
  161. 161.
    >Can never let others at the hospital know how you deal with these feelings.
  162. 162.
    >If of them ever learned the truth, they would take your career away from you.
  163. 163.
    >At here, at home, all alone, it’s then that you can properly express what you /truly/ feel.
  164. 164.
    >Alcohol lubricates the process easier…
  165. 165.
    >...and in some cases, as does a blade.
  166. 166.
    >Both are hidden away whenever you’re not longer alone.
  167. 167.
    >Experience has taught how to do that.
  168. 168.
    >Though in the case of marks on your foreleg, those are a bit more difficult conceal.
  169. 169.
    >A simple wristband currently covers it, like a pebble hidden within the shade of a tree.
  170. 170.
    >Most ponies never question it.
  171. 171.
    >The few that have asked, were easily satisfied with answer of it being a fashion statement.
  172. 172.
    >You’ve searched for what exactly ails you.
  173. 173.
    >Haven’t found it yet.
  174. 174.
    >Might never find it.
  175. 175.
    >Regardless, you’ll keep looking.
  176. 176.
    >You take another drink of the elixir.
  177. 177.
    >This burden would be easier to bear if you had somepony at your side.
  178. 178.
    >Finding that special somepony is like finding a needle in a haystack.
  179. 179.
    >Being alone is the norm.
  180. 180.
    >All alone.
  181. 181.
    >Some ponies are meant to be alone.
  182. 182.
    >That’s what you’ve heard before.
  183. 183.
    >For now, this bottle just about empty, gonna need another to replace it.
  184. 184.
    >This stuff keeps you company currently, it keeps you safe, keeps you rooted in place.
  185. 185.
     
  186. 186.
    >All of this talk about death is rather gloomy, isn’t it?
  187. 187.
    >Yeah, but it’s perfectly to talk about it every now and then.
  188. 188.
    >Besides, death can be beautiful sometimes.
  189. 189.
    >Discovered that around medical school.
  190. 190.
    >Although you don’t like seeing others die, you cannot deny the way the body looks afterwords.
  191. 191.
    >It’s just so… peaceful, fascinating even.
  192. 192.
    >This is normal to think about.
  193. 193.
    >This is abnormal to dwell on so much.
  194. 194.
    >This is you, a paradox of a pony.
  195. 195.
    >Conflicting thoughts keep buzzing around your head like bees, it’s hard to concentrate.
  196. 196.
    >It certainly isn’t all this alcohol affecting you, this is not your limit.
  197. 197.
    >After all, you know when to stop.
  198. 198.
    >Other than the open containers on the table, there is some stuff from work; just some books, and such, nothing special.
  199. 199.
    >But sitting there to the side, is a box of unopened razors.
  200. 200.
    >They’ve been here a while now.
  201. 201.
    >Can’t quite remember when you picked them up.
  202. 202.
    >It’s not important, it’s fine.
  203. 203.
    >Something inside compels you to withdraw one from the box.
  204. 204.
    “It’s so shiny, so pretty.”
  205. 205.
    >This single item has so much purpose.
  206. 206.
    >With it now tightly gripped in-between your teeth, you cast your gaze upon your foreleg.
  207. 207.
    >Many arteries are strewn through the long limb.
  208. 208.
    >All of them important, integral even, to your continued existence.
  209. 209.
    >It would be very easy to nick one.
  210. 210.
    >A countdown would soon follow after.
  211. 211.
    >If it reached zero, the lights would go out for good.
  212. 212.
    >Not going to do that.
  213. 213.
    >Won’t do it.
  214. 214.
    >No.
  215. 215.
    >Yes.
  216. 216.
    >Maybe.
  217. 217.
    >Wait a sec.
  218. 218.
    >When did you make that first cut?
  219. 219.
    >Don’t remember making it, or for that matter, removing your wristband either.
  220. 220.
    >But there it is, an open wound with blood that oozes slowly.
  221. 221.
    >It’s a very shallow cut, so there is nothing to worry about.
  222. 222.
    >It’s all alone, though, just like you are.
  223. 223.
    >That needs to change.
  224. 224.
    >Let’s make a second.
  225. 225.
    >How about a third?
  226. 226.
    >Nah, four won’t do.
  227. 227.
    >Five?
  228. 228.
    >Yes, perfect.
  229. 229.
    >These are bleeding a bit.
  230. 230.
    >Everything is fine, none of these are deep enough.
  231. 231.
    >Starting to feel tired, a little lightheaded too.
  232. 232.
    >A nice Deep Rest sounds wonderful right about now.
  233. 233.
    >All of those pesky memories can go away, as well as the pain felt.
  234. 234.
    >Should you clean up first?
  235. 235.
    >Of course.
  236. 236.
    >Or maybe not.
  237. 237.
    >You’re tired.
  238. 238.
    >You’re fine.
  239. 239.
    >You should go to sleep.
  240. 240.
    “...n-no, not j-just yet…”
  241. 241.
    >Gotta dress the messy wound first.
  242. 242.
    >Yeah, that’s right, a messy thing like you are…
  243. 243.
    >...on stuffs…
  244. 244.
    >Right?
  245. 245.
    >That doesn’t feel like it made sense.
  246. 246.
    >Hard to think straight.
  247. 247.
    >Maybe you drank too much.
  248. 248.
    >Do those cuts look properly taken care of?
  249. 249.
    “Sorta, kinda…”
  250. 250.
    >They shouldn’t be covered.
  251. 251.
    >They’re ugly.
  252. 252.
    >They’re done, it’s fine.
  253. 253.
    >Very tired, very lightheaded.
  254. 254.
    >Hard to think.
  255. 255.
    >Go to sleep.
  256. 256.
    >You shouldn’t.
  257. 257.
    >Don’t worry about it.
  258. 258.
    >Just fall asleep.
  259. 259.
    >It’s fine.
  260. 260.
    >It always is.
  261. 261.
    >So just-
  262. 262.
    >…

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