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                                            1.
                                            >That’s another bust.
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                                            2.
                                            >You look down at the list, only one name left.
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                                            3.
                                            “That just leaves...Cherry Berry?”
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                                            4.
                                            >You shrug, these ponies and their names.
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                                            5.
                                            >Unfortunately you can’t shake this growing pit in your stomach.
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                                            6.
                                            >Twilight was right, everyone of the ponies you have talked to thus far have more or less said the same thing.
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                                            7.
                                            >There are far easier ways to fly that don’t involve magic, so why bother?
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                                            8.
                                            “There has to be a way, I mean they have magic for fucks sake. Transform an object into something else, easy. Conjure a door out of thin air, piece of cake. Move a fucking celestial body...Actually only two can do that, but that’s not the point.”
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                                            9.
                                            >Shaking your head, you grit your teeth as you reach the outskirts of Ponyville, hopefully you won’t have to reach out to other towns to find out.
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                                            10.
                                            >Not sure what time it is either, so you try to hurry along.
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                                            11.
                                            >You arrive at a smaller pony house and can see a hanger out back.
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                                            12.
                                            >Looking at the note and back up at the home, you pause.
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                                            13.
                                            “Let’s hope this isn’t for nothing.”
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                                            14.
                                            >You sigh and reach the front door to find a bell to ring.
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                                            15.
                                            “Well that’s different.”
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                                            16.
                                            >You pull it a few times and wait as the final ring goes out.
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                                            17.
                                            >Don’t let yourself get stressed over this, it’s not like you didn’t try.
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                                            18.
                                            >Just more of a pain in the ass than you thought it would be.
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                                            19.
                                            >The door opens up, and a pink coated mare with a blonde mane steps out with a neutral expression on her face.
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                                            20.
                                            >”Can I help you with something?”
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                                            21.
                                            >Upon further inspection, you can see she has bags under her eyes and a pair of cherries for a cutiemark.
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                                            22.
                                            “Yeah, I’m assuming you’re Cherry Berry? I’m Anon.”
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                                            23.
                                            >She yawns and nods.
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                                            24.
                                            >”I already heard about you, and just call me Cherry.”
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                                            25.
                                            >Alright, she doesn’t seem like she really wants to talk, but that’s fine.
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                                            26.
                                            
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                                            27.
                                            “Do you happen to know a way to make a pony fly?”
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                                            28.
                                            >She raises an eyebrow.
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                                            29.
                                            >”Well I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I fly ponies and rent out my vehicles. If that’s what you’re after we can step inside and discuss business.”
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                                            30.
                                            >You shake your head.
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                                            31.
                                            “I mean, making them fly with wings, like a pegasus does.”
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                                            32.
                                            >Cherry frowns and glares at you.
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                                            33.
                                            >”Is this some kind of prank? Oh haha, make fun of Cherry just because she likes flying and is a dumb earth pony.”
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                                            34.
                                            >Guess Addie isn’t alone in those thoughts.
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                                            35.
                                            >You raise your hands up and attempt to calm her.
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                                            36.
                                            “No, I’m serious.”
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                                            37.
                                            >She doesn’t let go of her glare.
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                                            38.
                                            >”Did the Royal Magical Society send you then? Still want to take my designs?”
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                                            39.
                                            >What the fuck is this conspiracy bullshit?
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                                            40.
                                            >As you lower your hands you feel your own anger start to come on.
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                                            41.
                                            “No for fucks sake, I came here to help out a friend, not steal shit.”
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                                            42.
                                            >You stand your ground and keep up this staring contest for a bit.
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                                            43.
                                            >Finally, she relaxes and her expression softens.
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                                            44.
                                            >”Sorry about that, can’t blame me for being suspicious. Follow me.”
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                                            45.
                                            >You nod and follow her inside the house and see there is a desk in the living room with filing cabinets. There is also paper work on the desk and a couple of chairs in front. Looks like she doesn’t actually relax in here.
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                                            46.
                                            >She leads you into a back room that has a drawing table and a various prototype flying devices lying around.
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                                            47.
                                            >Cherry turns to face you and waves her leg around the room.
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                                            48.
                                            >”Don’t mind the mess, but I’ve been working on this stuff for years.”
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                                            49.
                                            >You nod and feel some hope at last.
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                                            50.
                                            “Pretty impressive, I’ve tried talking to different ponies across town about this, but none were helpful.”
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                                            51.
                                            >She lets out a yawn, picks up a cup from the drawing table and takes a quick drink.
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                                            52.
                                            >”Yeah that’s no surprise. Probably thought you were crazy as well.”
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                                            53.
                                            >Setting the cup down, she continues.
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                                            54.
                                            
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                                            55.
                                            >”As you can see, I’ve tried many designs, but I’ve mostly managed gliders of some kind. Trying to fly without magic is nearly impossible.”
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                                            56.
                                            >Your hope rises.
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                                            57.
                                            “Alright, well what holds you back from being possible?”
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                                            58.
                                            >Cherry looks at you like you grew a second head before shaking her head.
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                                            59.
                                            >”In short, the laws of aerodynamics and magic. It’d help if I could find a unicorn who could help.”
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                                            60.
                                            “Hold on, I thought there was no spell that could work, except for the wings spell that Twilight told me.”
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                                            61.
                                            >Her eyes widen.
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                                            62.
                                            >”Wait wait! You’re telling me there is a spell for that?!”
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                                            63.
                                            >You shrug and try to avoid explaining.
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                                            64.
                                            “Well, kinda? She told me they are fragile and the spell is hard to cast or something like that.”
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                                            65.
                                            >She slumps and her voice drops a little.
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                                            66.
                                            >”Well that figures...”
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                                            67.
                                            “Got any other ideas though?”
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                                            68.
                                            >She takes another drink and rubs her chin.
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                                            69.
                                            >”If a unicorn specializes in certain fields of enchantments, yeah. At least some kind of spell to help deal with the wings. That would probably make this so much easier.”
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                                            70.
                                            “Sounds easy enough.”
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                                            71.
                                            >Before you continue she shakes her head quickly.
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                                            72.
                                            >”No it isn’t. Unicorns magic is tied to their cutiemark, so that’s highly unlikely. Especially with so many unicorns in this world.”
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                                            73.
                                            >Smiling, you do know of one that might make this easier.
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                                            74.
                                            “Twilight told me her talent is tied to magic, so why don’t we ask her?”
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                                            75.
                                            >She opens her mouth and closes it several times before facehoofing
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                                            76.
                                            >”I-I never thought about that, but why would she help us?”
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                                            77.
                                            “I’ll handle that, but in the meantime.”
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                                            78.
                                            >You have a feeling it’s getting late.
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                                            79.
                                            “Do you have the time.”
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                                            80.
                                            >Cherry points to a nearby clock, and it says after one.
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                                            81.
                                            >Shit.
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                                            82.
                                            “We’ll talk later I got to get going.”
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                                            83.
                                            >Quickly, you start to run in hopes of not being late.
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                                            84.
                                            >You hear her call out to you as you’re running.
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                                            85.
                                            >”Yeah sure, hash out the details and all that!”
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                                            86.
                                            
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                                            87.
                                            >You just finished cleaning up and see that Anon isn’t here yet.
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                                            88.
                                            “...Maybe he forgot...”
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                                            89.
                                            >Doubtful, he hasn’t been late yet.
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                                            90.
                                            >Letting out a long sigh, you head over to your easel and start to set up for another sketch.
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                                            91.
                                            “...Or he realized how terrible I am...”
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                                            92.
                                            >Of course you let him get your hopes up.
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                                            93.
                                            >Not like this is the first time you’ve let another in and got hurt.
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                                            94.
                                            >As you pick up your pencil you let your eyes wander around to sketch something.
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                                            95.
                                            >The bookshelf will do fine.
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                                            96.
                                            >Just before you start, you hear knocking causing you jump and drop your pencil.
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                                            97.
                                            “...A-Anon..?”
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                                            98.
                                            >Shaking out of your stupor, you go unlock the door and open it.
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                                            99.
                                            >Anon is hunched over, breathing heavy.
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                                            100.
                                            >He raises a hand up and tries to catch his breath.
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                                            101.
                                            >”One sec.”
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                                            102.
                                            >As you wait, you feel some relief.
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                                            103.
                                            >He talks in-between breaths.
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                                            104.
                                            >”Alright, sorry about that. I let myself get caught up in some random business, but I’m here now.”
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                                            105.
                                            “...It-it’s okay...Come in...”
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                                            106.
                                            >He heads over to the middle of the room still breathing heavy.
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                                            107.
                                            >You head over to your easel and open up a folder for a particular picture.
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                                            108.
                                            >As you turn to face him, you feel your heart race and you start to shake.
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                                            109.
                                            >”Is everything alright? You’re shaking.”
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                                            110.
                                            >You say nothing and approach him.
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                                            111.
                                            >Slowly you reveal the picture and feel the courage to speak.
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                                            112.
                                            “...I-I drew us...”
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                                            113.
                                            >His eyes widen and he stares at the picture with a shocked expression.
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                                            114.
                                            >He doesn’t say any at first, worrying you.
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                                            115.
                                            >Does he like it, does he hate it?
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                                            116.
                                            >Maybe you’re overdoing this?
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                                            117.
                                            >Finally, he give you a large smile and starts to talk.
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                                            118.
                                            >”This is beautiful Addie.”
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                                            119.
                                            >Those words nearly floor you and cause your cheeks to burn.
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                                            120.
                                            >You turn your head away and try to hide the tears of joy.
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                                            121.
                                            >He really likes it, he really does!
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                                            122.
                                            >He continues on.
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                                            123.
                                            >”The colors are wonderful and I think you captured us really well.”
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                                            124.
                                            
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                                            125.
                                            >Your shaking returns and you squeeze your eyes shut.
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                                            126.
                                            >”Are you crying?”
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                                            127.
                                            >You nod and say nothing, you don’t want him to see you like this.
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                                            128.
                                            >It’s getting harder to not sob.
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                                            129.
                                            >Suddenly, you feel him place his hand on your wither.
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                                            130.
                                            >Your body jolts from the unexpected touch.
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                                            131.
                                            >You’ve been starved of any form of affection, just this simple touch sends you over the edge.
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                                            132.
                                            >Can’t stop the torrent of tears freed, nor the burning in your face.
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                                            133.
                                            >Over your crying you hear him try to soothe you.
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                                            134.
                                            >”I’m sorry, I didn’t mean you to make you cry. How about we try to forget this and just go back to drawing?”
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                                            135.
                                            >No, you won’t have that.
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                                            136.
                                            >You struggle, but finally manage to let some words escape.
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                                            137.
                                            “...I-I’m not s-sad...They-they’re tears of j-joy...”
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                                            138.
                                            >As you continue to cry, he stays quiet for a moment.
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                                            139.
                                            >You finally turn your head and look to his face through blurry eyes.
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                                            140.
                                            >That smile, it makes you feel something, you’re not sure what.
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                                            141.
                                            >You don’t want it to stop though.
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                                            142.
                                            >”Didn’t expect to make you so happy Addie, but I’m glad to see you smile.”
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                                            143.
                                            >He sets down the picture, and keeps trying to soothe you.
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                                            144.
                                            >The minutes pass and before long, you stop crying and feel drained, but still happy.
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                                            145.
                                            “...I-I needed that...Than-thank you...Anon...”
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                                            146.
                                            >He nods and looks over at the clock, you quickly look as well.
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                                            147.
                                            >It’s getting later and you didn’t even draw him today.
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                                            148.
                                            “...I’m sorry...I shouldn’t lost control...Now you have to leave...R-right..?”
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                                            149.
                                            >Anon looks back to you.
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                                            150.
                                            >”I can stay a little while longer, if you want.”
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                                            151.
                                            >You nod slowly.
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                                            152.
                                            >Sure you want to sketch, but a yawn signals your exhaustion.
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                                            153.
                                            “...Can we just look at some pictures..?”
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                                            154.
                                            >”Sure, I’d like that.”
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                                            155.
                                            >You grab a nearby book from the shelf and sit with him on the couch.
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                                            156.
                                            >As you show him the various landscapes in the book, you feel more tired.
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                                            157.
                                            
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                                            158.
                                            >Normally you wouldn’t so exhausted, but crying seemed to take a lot out of you.
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                                            159.
                                            >Before long, you can barely stay awake.
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                                            160.
                                            “...I-I’m sorry...I’m really tired...”
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                                            161.
                                            >”It’s alright Addie, we can pick this up tomorrow.”
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                                            162.
                                            >You nod and he gets up.
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                                            163.
                                            >As he is about to leave, he stops and turns back to you.
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                                            164.
                                            >”If you like, we can just talk tomorrow.”
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                                            165.
                                            >You give a weak smile and yawn before nodding.
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                                            166.
                                            “...Yeah...Sure...”
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                                            167.
                                            >”Goodnight Addie.”
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                                            168.
                                            “...Goodnight Anon...”
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                                            169.
                                            >As the door shuts, the warmth inside of you stays strong.
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                                            170.
                                            >You go to prepare for bed, and along the way your thoughts stray.
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                                            171.
                                            “...What is this feeling..?...Is this what real friendship is like..?”
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                                            172.
                                            >You’re not certain yet, but you hope soon you will know.
 
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon