>At long last, she’s peacefully asleep.
>It took far longer than expected, but then again, she is very special.
>Just noticed the time as well; spent roughly three hours to get her to rest.
>To be honest, it felt much shorter.
>Not that it matters much, only she does.
>After all, she is everything.
>A wistful smile creeps slowly upon your lips.
>It’s born from the the single solitary thought: she is yours.
>And no matter what happens, you won’t let anyone – ANYONE – take her away from you.
>Her barrel rises and falls slowly with each passing breath.
>She looks much happier this way, so beautiful.
>If only she could see that truth for herself.
>Alas, that is a lofty goal.
>But for now, she has you to see her for what she truly is: a wonder.
>As much as you want to stay here with her, there are some other matters that must be tended to.
>You gently close your eyes to withhold a growing pressure inside of your chest.
>Have to hold it a moment or so, least it cause any trouble.
>A slow, careful release of breath, and you reopen your eyes to her sleeping form.
>It’s all that is needed to make it dissipate.
>So long as you have her, these little problems will never amount to anything.
>That’s all you need to know.
>With a small kiss upon the side of her head, you reluctantly leave the room.
>This home will shelter the two of you from all harm.
>It’s in here that the world exists.
>Nothing else exists outside of it.
>Yet sometimes, you have to go out into the nothing, for her.
>A quick check of the fiances shows that everything is in order, just as expected.
>Shouldn’t never need to worry about them, but being careful certainly helps prevent unwanted surprises.
>Next on the agenda is a letter.
>With quill and parchment, you get to work on it.
>Wish writing these were not necessary.
>Wish for a lot of things, too.
>If you didn’t do this however, it would cause… trouble.
>More specifically, certain individuals.

>Your writing slows to a crawl as you instinctively clench your teeth.
>It would be better if those individuals weren’t around anymore.
>But if you were to remove them, it would cause far worse trouble.
>Which is why you write these stupid silly little letters.
>Shouldn’t concern yourself further with such thoughts, they’re slowing progress.
>After all, those individuals are nothing.
>Once the task is finished, you take a step out into the void, and set the letters in the mailbox.
>Wait, mailbox?
>That can’t be right, there’s nothing out here.
>Has to be your imagination playing tricks on you.
>After all, it’s just you and her, nothing more, nothing less.
>Back inside is safe, back inside is her.
>You retreat within, and turn your attention to something special.
>Not dinner just yet, but a surprise instead.
>Practiced skill comes easily as you work on it.
>She’ll love this, she always does.
>That’s what your talent is; mending her broken heart.
>In the not so distant past, others said your talent was something else.
>They were liars.
>They were thieves.
>They wanted to keep her away form you.
>Nearly slip with your work at that thought.
>A simple titter uttered recovers enough to correct that.
>Just have to remember that she is yours.
>It took so long for that to happen, too long.
>If it wasn’t for a series of circumstances, she wouldn’t be here with you.
>But she’s safe now, with you.
>A fair bit of time has been invested on this gift, but it is ready for when the time comes.
>Even more so, it was accomplished in a timely manner.
>Not that you expected otherwise, if it’s for her, it’s always perfectly done and on time.
>You return to the bedroom where she is.
>She’s still fast asleep.
>Good.
>It’s not as if she is going anywhere, but there’s always this… thought, that she won’t be there.
>Don’t know why it comes, it shouldn’t exist in the first place.
>There is nothing outside this home, it is the entire world.

>And she is at the center of it all.
>Her beautiful raven mane, those rose tinted eyes, and that wonderful ashen coat.
>She’ll see what you see someday, just have to keep reminding her of that.
>Until then, you’ll be here with her, forever.
>For now, you go work on preparing dinner.
>Don’t really need it yourself, but you’ll eat anyways.
>She’s all that you need to live.
>What to make, though?
>Ah, a simple stew will suffice.
>Unfortunately, some of the supplies are low.
>Which means you’ll have to venture out to get some more.
>Which means she’ll be here.
>Alone.
>Without you.
>Feel a slight twitch in your eye.
>Breath, remember her.
>In.
>Out.
>In.
>Out.
>There we go, much better.
>Now then, this meager problem has to be taken care of.
>You won’t be gone long, but…
>A small sigh escapes from your mouth.
>...it hurts all the same.
>Just be quick about this.
>With that thought, you depart out into the nothingness.
>A mess of colors are all around, as well as moving shapes all about.
>All of these things are useless, all of them are fake.
>Because the truth is: they are nothing.
>Some of the forms pass by, some even have sounds.
>Like in a fantasy, none of that is real.
>Thankfully, they don’t slow down your journey in the slightest.
>Long ago, they once did.
>That was before you took her in, though.
>The thought is ignored as you reach the destination.
>This place holds what you need.
>Correction: what /she/ needs.
>After all, you only need her.
>Much like the outside, there are shapes moving about here as well.
>Could have sworn that something called out your name at some point.
>However, it wasn’t her voice, so it doesn’t matter.
>After acquiring the goods, you’re about to leave when a flicker of color from the corner of your eye gives you pause.
>Something about it feels familiar.
>Those colors, they are… dark gray, almost black, and… purple?
>No.
>It’s not real.
>It’s not real.
>It’s not real.
>Ignore it, go home.

>With a breath in/out, the color vanishes into a blob like everything else.
>Smiling, you calmly and casually depart off.
>There’s a scratching in the back of your mind as you’re walking.
>Seems more like a voice, or something is trying to get your attention.
>For some reason, you pick up the pace.
>Don’t quite know why either.
>Not important, home is.
>Home is where it is safe.
>Home is where she is.
>Despite that thought, your movements hasten further and further until everything around seems to vanish.
>Things come back into focus; you’re home.
>Once safely back inside, the nothing from outside fades away like it always does.
>The door locks behind you, and a wave of calm washes over you peacefully.
>There are no more sounds from outside, because there is nothing outside.
>The only sounds are from within; this is the world, and she is the center.
>Speaking of which, you go check on her.
>She’s just as you left her, asleep.
>Your eyes travel about her body, landing eventually on her legs.
>Those various marks still adorn them, all from the distant past.
>Life has been, and always was, hard on her for so very long.
>That all changed the day you found her out within the nothingness.
>If was then and there that you realized that your entire life had been a total lie up to that point.
>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.
>It was… agonizing to do keep doing that day after day.
>She, much like you, was in so much pain.
>Now she isn’t suffering anymore, nor are you.
>But all of that pain could have been avoided had you acted sooner.
>Does that make you bad?
>No, there was no way of knowing what was going on.
>Yet you acted too late.
>Things were different then, you’re stronger now, you’re-
>-a monster.
>The temperature takes a sudden dive, like a winter storm has descended out of nowhere.
>Even stranger, everything has come to a complete standstill.

>You focus on her in an attempt to make sense of things.
>All of her color has faded, and she too is still, almost as if she were… de-
>NO!
>Try as you might, nothing seems to budge; from within, from without.
>Words fail to form in your throat, there’s just a silence.
>Breath.
>C-can’t.
>Breath!
>Ca-…
>BREATH!
>All at once, air rushes into your lungs with such a force that you fall to the ground in a heap.
>Everything so heavy, vision has turned into a blurred mess.
>Don’t give up, she NEEDS you.
>Summoning all that you are, you shakily stand, and find everything back to the way it was.
>She’s asleep, like nothing happened.
>More importantly, she is safe.
>She is alright.
>She is yours.
>Just as it should be.
>Whatever terror occurred never was real, it never is.
>Because like the outside, it is nothing.
>It doesn’t matter how many times the forces from there attempt to draw you back out, it will NEVER be real.
>You take a brief moment to compose yourself, along with a once-over to ensure that everything is place.
>Don’t like episodes like these, but at least they don’t occur when she’s awake.
>They’ll come and go, like always.
>For now, you go work on making dinner.
>The stew comes together slowly, but surely.
>As it nears completion, a sound from the other room reaches your ears.
>Immediately, it’s clear that it’s her that is stirring from her slumber.
>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.
>She lets out a small yawn that plucks your heartstrings ever so.
“You’re just in the time, dinner is about to be ready.”
>She takes a seat at the table with a tiny nod.
>“...mmhm.”
>Shortly there after, you finish up, fill two bowls, and join her.
“Be careful, it’s still hot.”
>The corner of her mouth raises slightly.
>“’kay.”
>It’s not much of a smile, but it might as well be a diamond to you.

>No, wait, that’s far too inadequate of a description, it’s far more unique and valuable.
>Nevertheless, it’s precious.
“So what do you think?”
>“S’good.”
>Your smile broadens as you continue to eat your own.
>Didn’t really need to ask, but getting her to talk is all the more worth it.
>It’s such things that feeds the joy inside.
“I’ve got something special to show you after we’re done eating.”
>“Oh?”
>You nod eagerly.
“Take care a guess at what it is.”
>“Uh… a song?”
“Indeed. I wrote it while you were sleeping, I think you’ll like it.”
>“I don’t doubt it, everything you make is great.”
>Not as great as her.
>But all the works you create are born from her, as she is your muse.
>She stops goes to take another spoonful, but stops, and her eyes flicker downwards.
>Don’t know what that look is, don’t like it.
>Whatever it is, you need to know right away.
>Because nothing else matters at the moment.
>Your entire attention shifts completely to her, and only her.
“Is something wrong?”
>She shakes her head lightly.
>“No… it’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”
>That isn’t true.
>Did you do something wrong?
>Does she hate you?
>Why is she hiding?
>Is she going to leave you?
>NO, no… just… stop, breath.
>One silent breath in/out, and everything remains in control.
>You reach over and gently touch her wither.
“Hey, you know you can tell me anything, right?”
>“I know, it’s just…”
>She lets out a deep sigh, then lets her gaze go to your face; her eyes glitter slightly in the light.
>“...I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me. Sometimes it doesn’t feel real…”
>Such an old fear of hers, one that refuses to ever go away.
>It’s nothing that you cannot handle, though.
>You rub her shoulder in a calm controlled manner.
“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.”
>Not a total lie, yet still, a small one.

>So long as it keeps her happy, that it shall persist.
>Her eyes linger on you for a little while longer, then close softly.
>Another moment to keep within the vault of your mind forever.
>As she reopens them, she gives a tiny nod.
>“Yeah, I know you’re right. Thanks anyway, Connie.”
“You’re welcome. But please, eat your stew before it gets cold, then afterwords I can show you the song I made.”
>You let go and the two of you return to eating.
>At the center of everything is Miss Eri, she is yours.
>And for you, Connie Amore, that’s all that is, and will be, in your life.