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                                            1.
                                            >Rolling over, you haven’t slept much since you got back last night.
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                                            2.
                                            >Your thoughts keep going back to the previous days.
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                                            3.
                                            >The movie you watched with your friends was great, though you cut yourself earlier that day…
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                                            4.
                                            >As for the museum, it started nice...Then you had a small breakdown…
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                                            5.
                                            >But shopping was fun, you even bought a new book, then again, you had cut twice earlier…
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                                            6.
                                            >Then there was yesterday, seeing Connie being so happy to show the hall was great.
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                                            7.
                                            >Visiting the statue however, not so much…
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                                            8.
                                            >Only good thing that came out of that was seeing Connie scare that stallion.
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                                            9.
                                            >Still curious as to what she said.
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                                            10.
                                            >Rest’s snoring breaks your thoughts.
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                                            11.
                                            >It’s kinda funny to be honest.
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                                            12.
                                            >As you stare at the ceiling, you close your eyes and try to sleep.
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                                            13.
                                            >’Seems kinda fruitless at this point.’
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                                            14.
                                            >Not again…
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                                            15.
                                            >’Gonna bite yourself if you hear the truth again?’
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                                            16.
                                            >I just need to sleep.
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                                            17.
                                            >’So you’re going to lay in bed like you usually do? Good, about time you accept that things don’t change.’
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                                            18.
                                            >I already changed from everything I did on this trip.
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                                            19.
                                            >’It’s not just a habit you break, it’s who YOU are. That is something that doesn’t change in a week.’
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                                            20.
                                            >I’m making the effort to fix that.
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                                            21.
                                            >’Each day you’ve been here, you’ve fallen apart at one point or another.’
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                                            22.
                                            >I…
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                                            23.
                                            >’See? Even though you pushed on, you fell each time. Your ‘friends’ might’ve been there, but that didn’t stop it from happening.’
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                                            24.
                                            >You...You’re…
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                                            25.
                                            >’Still going on with that? I’m a thought in your head, one of many in fact.’
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                                            26.
                                            >Yeah…
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                                            27.
                                            >Reopening your eyes, you realize this is futile.
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                                            28.
                                            >Looking over, you see Rest let out another snore.
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                                            29.
                                            “Least she isn’t that loud.”
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                                            30.
                                            >You open up your suitcase and pull out your personal book.
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                                            31.
                                            >Haven’t written anything since you got here.
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                                            32.
                                            “Might as well.”
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                                            33.
                                            >Getting up, you head out into the living room.
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                                            34.
                                            >As you settle into the couch, you start to write.
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                                            35.
                                            
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                                            36.
                                            >Strange how creativity can come and go like this.
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                                            37.
                                            >You keep writing and erasing, not quite satisfied with your work.
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                                            38.
                                            >Setting down the pencil, you reread it again.
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                                            39.
                                            “This isn’t right, it should be more personal. Maybe something on what happened to me?”
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                                            40.
                                            >Of course, that’s the only way you can write.
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                                            41.
                                            >Such an obvious answer too, though you try to avoid doing that.
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                                            42.
                                            >You’d rather write poetry about anything else other than yourself.
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                                            43.
                                            >Shaking your head, you pick up your pencil and start writing again.
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                                            44.
                                            >>”You’re up early.”
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                                            45.
                                            >Pausing, you look up and see Connie trotting out.
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                                            46.
                                            “Couldn’t sleep.”
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                                            47.
                                            >She nods, heading over to the fridge to pull out stuff for breakfast.
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                                            48.
                                            >As she is prepping to cook, you figure you could ask her the question on your mind.
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                                            49.
                                            “What did you say to that stallion yesterday?”
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                                            50.
                                            >She stops for a moment before continuing.
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                                            51.
                                            >>”Well...I just made him reconsider his actions.”
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                                            52.
                                            >Yeah not likely.
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                                            53.
                                            “Really?”
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                                            54.
                                            >She shakes her head and stops cooking to come over to you.
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                                            55.
                                            >Connie stops in front of you and her face loses some of its happiness.
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                                            56.
                                            >>”You really want to know? Okay, I said I wasn’t afraid to tear his balls off in front of all those ponies if he didn’t fuck off.”
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                                            57.
                                            >You let out a little laugh, but feel some shock hearing her swear.
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                                            58.
                                            >She smiles and heads back to cooking.
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                                            59.
                                            >>”If he had accepted your apology, I would’ve let it go, but he didn’t. No pony, and I mean NO pony, messes with my friends.”
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                                            60.
                                            >Her words warm your heart.
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                                            61.
                                            >Of course she cares, she has done so much for you and Rest this trip.
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                                            62.
                                            >Going back to your writing, you try to focus.
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                                            63.
                                            >You rewrite it again and again though, still not satisfied.
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                                            64.
                                            >Setting down your pencil again, you smell Connie’s cooking.
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                                            65.
                                            >Your stomach answers you, just the first day you smelled her cooking.
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                                            66.
                                            “I can take a break.”
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                                            67.
                                            >You get up from the couch and sit at the table while watching Connie.
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                                            68.
                                            >She notices and smiles.
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                                            69.
                                            
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                                            70.
                                            “Sorry, your cooking pulled me away from writing.”
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                                            71.
                                            >>”I figured as much. You both seem to be addicted to it.”
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                                            72.
                                            >Furrowing your brow, you turn your head and see Rest approaching with a tired look on her face.
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                                            73.
                                            >”Good morning, surprised to see you up Eri.”
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                                            74.
                                            >She sits at the table and lets out a yawn.
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                                            75.
                                            “Like I told Connie, couldn’t stay asleep, so I came out here to write.”
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                                            76.
                                            >”Oh? Surprised you didn’t stay in bed to do it.”
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                                            77.
                                            “That’s because you were snoring.”
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                                            78.
                                            >Her eyes widen and you hear Connie giggle.
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                                            79.
                                            >”I-I don’t snore! Do I?”
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                                            80.
                                            >She looks back and forth between the two of you.
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                                            81.
                                            “Yeah, yeah you do Rest.”
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                                            82.
                                            >She blushes and buries her face in her hooves.
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                                            83.
                                            >”No pony ever tells me these things...”
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                                            84.
                                            >Well now you kinda feel bad, but it’s the truth.
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                                            85.
                                            >Connie sets a plate of pancakes in front of her.
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                                            86.
                                            >>”This should take your mind off of it.”
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                                            87.
                                            >Rest raises her head and sighs.
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                                            88.
                                            >”At least I know now.”
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                                            89.
                                            “It’s not so bad. You could be fucked up like me.”
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                                            90.
                                            >As she eats and waves her hoof.
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                                            91.
                                            >”Eri, that’s not fair to say. Sure you’re having trouble, but snoring is VERY minor in comparison.”
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                                            92.
                                            >She’s not wrong, even though you want to argue with her.
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                                            93.
                                            >As you sit there, you gently rub your leg, it’s still sore.
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                                            94.
                                            >Thankfully, you’re not limping anymore.
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                                            95.
                                            >Still can’t let either of them know you’ve been cutting yourself this trip.
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                                            96.
                                            >’Afraid they will leave you? You know they will.’
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                                            97.
                                            >They wouldn’t, they have stuck with me through this trip and more.
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                                            98.
                                            >’Then why not put it to the test if you’re so sure?’
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                                            99.
                                            >No, that’s just asking for trouble. They deal with enough bullshit from me.
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                                            100.
                                            >’Knew you would be too weak to show your vulnerabilities.’
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                                            101.
                                            >I know I’m weak, that’s nothing new. If I was actually strong, I wouldn’t be doing half the shit I do.
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                                            102.
                                            >’But you can’t trust them enough to tell them everything.’
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                                            103.
                                            >Fuck off.
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                                            104.
                                            >’You know that it’s the truth Eri. It always will be.’
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                                            105.
                                            
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                                            106.
                                            >A plate of pancakes is placed in front of you, and you see Connie smile.
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                                            107.
                                            >>”Bit for your thoughts?”
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                                            108.
                                            >Yeah, why not?
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                                            109.
                                            “Just thinking about how this trip has gone.”
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                                            110.
                                            >Not entirely a lie, just don’t need to know your internal thoughts at the moment.
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                                            111.
                                            >”Oh? I think it’s gone pretty well.”
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                                            112.
                                            >>”I agree, it’s been great to hang out with you two. We really need to do it more often.”
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                                            113.
                                            >It’s clear they ignoring the incidents and trying to focus on the positives.
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                                            114.
                                            >You feel yourself slouch and mumble out your thoughts.
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                                            115.
                                            “...Despite me fucking up so much.”
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                                            116.
                                            >Almost immediately Rest snaps to you.
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                                            117.
                                            >”Eri, you’re being too hard on yourself. You can’t expect everything to go one hundred percent all the time.”
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                                            118.
                                            >You’re about to respond, but she continues on.
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                                            119.
                                            >”Besides, you’re forgetting how much progress you’ve made this trip. You rode a train to get here and even went to various public places with ponies. Even with those minor hiccups, I’d say that’s some pretty fucking amazing progress.”
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                                            120.
                                            >Taking a bite of your pancakes, you let out a sigh.
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                                            121.
                                            >She’s right, but you keep forgetting about that.
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                                            122.
                                            >It’s obvious why as well, so obvious that you don’t want to see it.
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                                            123.
                                            >You’re afraid of change.
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                                            124.
                                            >Sitting up once more, you give a small smile.
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                                            125.
                                            “Yeah, sorry. Just hard for me to accept it. Maybe one day I will.”
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                                            126.
                                            >As you take a drink, Connie joins you both at the table.
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                                            127.
                                            >>”Speaking from my own experience, you almost never notice your own progress as you develop. The only reason I know I’m growing better at playing, is because of others noticing. The point is, when eventually do notice your progress, it’s one of the best feelings in the world.”
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                                            128.
                                            >Of course they are both right on the matter.
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                                            129.
                                            >Would be nice to have the answers like they do, could make dealing with your own madness easier.
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                                            130.
                                            >’Keep telling yourself that. Who knows? You might one day believe that kind of delusional idea.’
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                                            131.
                                            
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                                            132.
                                            >Ignoring that thought, you finish eating and get up to head to the bedroom.
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                                            133.
                                            >Before you leave the table entirely, Connie grabs your attention.
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                                            134.
                                            >>”Since today is the last day you’re both here, how about we hang out here?”
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                                            135.
                                            >Honestly, that sounds like a good idea.
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                                            136.
                                            >Sure you’ve enjoyed going out during this trip, but spending time with your friends here is just as enjoyable.
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                                            137.
                                            >Plus you can avoid anymore troubles with them around.
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                                            138.
                                            >You nod and feel a little happier.
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                                            139.
                                            “Sure, I’d like that.”
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                                            140.
                                            >”Me too, we have been out almost day since we’ve been here after all.”
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                                            141.
                                            >As Connie beams, you continue to head to the bedroom, but stop at the couch to grab your book and pencil.
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                                            142.
                                            >You’re starting to feel like you know what to write, and continue to your destination.
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                                            143.
                                            >Setting your stuff on the bed, you grab another hoodie and pause briefly at the sight of your razor.
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                                            144.
                                            >’Thinking about cutting yourself again? Go ahead, you need it after all Eri.’
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                                            145.
                                            >Shaking your head, you ignore it again.
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                                            146.
                                            “No, not today.”
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                                            147.
                                            >Heading to the bathroom, you start to fill the tub and look at your reflection.
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                                            148.
                                            >Moments like these allow you to really take in yourself.
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                                            149.
                                            >Your eyes still have bags under them and your mane is a mess, but honestly, you don’t really care.
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                                            150.
                                            >It’s still you looking back in the mirror.
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                                            151.
                                            >As you unwrap your bandage, it sticks to your coat in some places.
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                                            152.
                                            >Not surprising, its from from yesterday’s hasty job.
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                                            153.
                                            >The area around the cuts are stained a dark, nearly brown, red.
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                                            154.
                                            “Doesn’t look too bad.”
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                                            155.
                                            >’Are you certain of that?’
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                                            156.
                                            “No, but it doesn’t look as bad as yesterday.”
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                                            157.
                                            >’Kinda sad that you don’t know, despite cutting yourself so much.’
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                                            158.
                                            “Go away dammit...”
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                                            159.
                                            >’You can’t escape for-’
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                                            160.
                                            >Squeezing your leg, the pain silences the thoughts again.
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                                            161.
                                            >As you wince, you know you can’t keep doing this.
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                                            162.
                                            “Just have to hold out till I get home, that’s all.”
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                                            163.
                                            
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                                            164.
                                            >Letting go, your leg hurts, but thankfully it isn’t bleeding.
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                                            165.
                                            >You turn off the facet and climb in to bathe, relaxing quickly.
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                                            166.
                                            >Though your mind doesn’t stray into dark territory, you feel uneasy.
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                                            167.
                                            >The answer is obvious as to why.
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                                            168.
                                            “I’ll be going home soon...”
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                                            169.
                                            >A stray tear rolls down the side of your face, and you blink away anymore forming.
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                                            170.
                                            >Taking a breath, you slowly release it to calm yourself.
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                                            171.
                                            >You raise your leg into view, and look at it closely as the water cleaned it away.
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                                            172.
                                            >Like you thought, it’s not so bad despite the cuts still being there.
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                                            173.
                                            >Sitting up, you clean up quickly so as to not waste time like previously.
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                                            174.
                                            >When you finish drying off, you decide to not wear a hoodie this time.
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                                            175.
                                            “No point in trying to hide the cuts, they are never going away.”
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                                            176.
                                            >When you reach the bedroom, you put away the hoodie and pick up your book to start writing again.
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                                            177.
                                            >You sit on the bed and grab your pencil, picking up where you left off.
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                                            178.
                                            >Even though the words flow freely, you keep stopping to erase the words.
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                                            179.
                                            “Feels like I’m never satisfied with my work...”
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                                            180.
                                            >Letting out a sigh, you continue to write for some time.
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                                            181.
                                            >Pausing again, you look it over and let out a sigh.
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                                            182.
                                            “Guess this is okay.”
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                                            183.
                                            >…
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                                            184.
                                            >Hopefully.
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                                            185.
                                            >You close your book, bringing it with you into the living room.
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                                            186.
                                            >>”-only thirty seconds too. I thought stallions lasted longer than that.”
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                                            187.
                                            >What the fuck?
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                                            188.
                                            >No wait, you clearly just walked into the tail end of the conversation.
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                                            189.
                                            >It’s not like Connie is actually talking-
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                                            190.
                                            >>”What’s worse, he tried to claim that most stallions have that little of stamina.”
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                                            191.
                                            >Okay, maybe she is.
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                                            192.
                                            >Before she can continue on, you need to know.
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                                            193.
                                            “What the fuck are you talking about?”
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                                            194.
                                            >She freezes, turning to you with a smile.
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                                            195.
                                            >Rest is sitting nearby and also smirking, probably because she saw you come into the room.
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                                            196.
                                            
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                                            197.
                                            >>”I-uh-um...Going out for a run?”
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                                            198.
                                            >You raise an eyebrow.
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                                            199.
                                            “Really? Because it sounds like you’re talking about how long a stallion lasts in bed.”
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                                            200.
                                            >Connie’s face turns a bright red and Rest starts to laugh.
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                                            201.
                                            “So I’m right then? Didn’t think you’d be so lewd.”
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                                            202.
                                            >As her faces turns a deeper shade of red, she tries to explain herself.
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                                            203.
                                            >>”I-I can explain! It’s not what it sounds like!”
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                                            204.
                                            >Letting out a laugh of your own, you decide to push a little more.
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                                            205.
                                            “Uh-huh, sure...You’re totally not talking about some stallion blowing his load too early.”
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                                            206.
                                            >Rest laughs even harder now, and you feel pretty damn happy yourself.
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                                            207.
                                            >>”It was just a friend asking me for advice, it’s not like I slept with him! That’s all I swear!”
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                                            208.
                                            >Shaking your head, you join Rest on the couch and give a big shit eating grin.
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                                            209.
                                            “So you’re telling me, that a ‘friend’, asked you for advice about his dick?”
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                                            210.
                                            >She nods quickly.
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                                            211.
                                            >>”Yes! His marefriend had been a little upset, so I asked him what was wrong. We eventually discussed about his bedroom time, and he brought that up out of the blue. It was hard to keep a straight face the whole time, I felt so bad.”
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                                            212.
                                            >You can’t help it.
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                                            213.
                                            “I bet his marefriend wanted him to be hard longer too.”
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                                            214.
                                            >A loud thump pulls your attention, and you see Rest rolling around laughing.
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                                            215.
                                            >”Stop! Ahahahaha! It’s-haha-hurting to laugh!”
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                                            216.
                                            >Letting out a fake sigh, you roll your eyes and sit back.
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                                            217.
                                            “Alright, alright. Couldn’t help myself.”
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                                            218.
                                            >As she slowly calms down, Connie’s face returns to normal, mostly.
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                                            219.
                                            >Probably the best time for this.
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                                            220.
                                            “So...Um...I wrote something that I wanted to share.”
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                                            221.
                                            >They both perk up.
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                                            222.
                                            >”Alright.”
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                                            223.
                                            >>”I’d love to hear it as always Eri.”
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                                            224.
                                            >Smiling, you open up your book, close your eyes, and take a breath in slowly.
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                                            225.
                                            
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                                            226.
                                            >Reopening your eyes, you exhale and start.
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                                            227.
                                            
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                                            228.
                                            Though I have journeyed far
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                                            229.
                                            I have finally raised myself to a new bar
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                                            230.
                                            And though I still fear
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                                            231.
                                            I am with friends that I hold dear
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                                            232.
                                            
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                                            233.
                                            Each day was a blast
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                                            234.
                                            But those are now in the past
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                                            235.
                                            The mornings were fun to behold
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                                            236.
                                            And the evenings had me sold
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                                            237.
                                            
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                                            238.
                                            While my vacation was blissful
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                                            239.
                                            It could have turned out more peaceful
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                                            240.
                                            The memories I held close
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                                            241.
                                            Are the ones I enjoyed the most
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                                            242.
                                            
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                                            243.
                                            Soon I will leave this place
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                                            244.
                                            And with it, my heart will be encased
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                                            245.
                                            But I have more days to come
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                                            246.
                                            Even when it seems like there is none
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                                            247.
                                            
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                                            248.
                                            As this draws to its end
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                                            249.
                                            My mind will always mend
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                                            250.
                                            Though I am still a pest
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                                            251.
                                            I still have my friends, Connie and Rest
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                                            252.
                                            
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                                            253.
                                            >Looking back up to them, they both clop in applause.
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                                            254.
                                            >You feel so overjoyed that you tear up.
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                                            255.
                                            “T-thanks, I know it’s not the b-best, but I tried anyways.”
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                                            256.
                                            >Connie shakes her head.
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                                            257.
                                            >>”I keep telling you that your work is good Eri, you will see it in time.
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                                            258.
                                            >Maybe someday, but not today.
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                                            259.
                                            >Rest touches your wither and smiles.
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                                            260.
                                            >”It’s true you know. We don’t just say that because we’re your friends.”
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                                            261.
                                            “Yeah, I know...It’s hard for me accept sometimes.”
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                                            262.
                                            >More like all the time, but who knows?
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                                            263.
                                            >Wiping away any tears, you see the nearby clock and frown.
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                                            264.
                                            >Connie looks over and lets out a sigh.
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                                            265.
                                            >>”Looks like we should get going to the station.”
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                                            266.
                                            >As Rest sees the clock, she nods.
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                                            267.
                                            >”Yeah, don’t want to be late for our train.”
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                                            268.
                                            >Does it really have to end?
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                                            269.
                                            >Yes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t hang out with them again.
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                                            270.
                                            >As the two of you pack your things, you feel a pit forming in your stomach.
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                                            271.
                                            >You both head out into the other room and see Connie wearing a half smile.
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                                            272.
                                            >She looks like she wants to say something, but instead leads you three outside.
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                                            273.
                                            >The taxi ride is silent, and you can feel the tension building.
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                                            274.
                                            >At the station, it finally breaks when you and Rest approach the train.
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                                            275.
                                            
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                                            276.
                                            >Connie quickly pulls you both into a group hug, one you hold onto for as long as you can.
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                                            277.
                                            >>”I’m gonna miss you two, write back to me.”
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                                            278.
                                            >”I promise that we will.”
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                                            279.
                                            “This sucks that it has to end.”
 - 
                                            280.
                                            >Connie sniffles.
 - 
                                            281.
                                            >>”It’s okay, we got to spend so much time together, I don’t regret a single day.”
 - 
                                            282.
                                            >”That’s right, it was all worth it.”
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                                            283.
                                            >You say nothing, you’d rather not break down again.
 - 
                                            284.
                                            >As Connie pulls out of the hug, she is teary eyed and wipes them away.
 - 
                                            285.
                                            >The conductor calls out for ponies to board.
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                                            286.
                                            >”Guess we should go, take care Connie.”
 - 
                                            287.
                                            >>”You too.”
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                                            288.
                                            >Quickly, you hug Connie one last time before boarding.
 - 
                                            289.
                                            >Your tears fall freely as you quietly cry.
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                                            290.
                                            >You find your seat and Rest joins you.
 - 
                                            291.
                                            >”It’s going to be okay, we will see her again.”
 - 
                                            292.
                                            >Sniffling, you nod.
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                                            293.
                                            >The train starts to move, and you look out the window to see Connie waving.
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                                            294.
                                            >You wave back until you can’t see her anymore.
 - 
                                            295.
                                            >Sitting back, you let out a sigh and slowly, you get yourself back under control.
 - 
                                            296.
                                            “Maybe next time, she can visit us in Ponyville.”
 - 
                                            297.
                                            >”That would be nice, we can probably plan it out soon.”
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                                            298.
                                            >Nodding, you watch the scenery.
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                                            299.
                                            >You’re on your way home, but honestly, you could get used to going out more.
 
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon
                         by NHanon