Redheart smiles and raises her glass.

"That's the spirit."

Loading a fork with your food, you eat your dinner, ignoring the neighboring table.

"So, how was work?" you ask.

"Oh, not bad. You know, same old same old."

You smile, swallowing your food.

"You're the only pony I know that could remark about something like saving a life as 'same old.'"

Redheart rolls her eyes.

"This is Ponyville, Anon," she says. "The worst we deal with around here is some bad cramps and broken wings."

"I suppose that makes sense," you snicker.

"Oh! Is that Anon?" calls a voice from not far away.

You look up to Redheart, who gives you a puzzling look.

"I think that is!" says Fluttershy.

Out of the corner of your eye, Fluttershy rises to her hooves and trots over your table.

"What a coincidence, Anon! I was just here with Big Macintosh. What brings you here?" she asks.

Your hand balls into a fist, but Redheart reaches across the table and places a hoof on your hand.

"I don't think we've met before," Redheart says, looking up to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy looks down to Nurse Redheart with a smile.

"Why, aren't you the Nurse at the hospital?" she asks.

"I am," she says. "Anon and I were here on our date."

"A date?!" she says happily. "Why Anon! You should have told me! We could have made it a double date."

You grumble, looking away from her.

"Why, why don't we? There's no time like the present! Why don't we just merge our tables together and make it a foursome!"

"Why don't you go f-"

"I think we'd prefer to be alone," Redheart says acidicly to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy looks down at Redheart, her eyes focused in a lazer hate-beam at her.

"I see," she says quietly. "Well then, I hope the two of you enjoy your evening."

Big Macintosh looks painfully between Fluttershy, Redheart, and you.

A part of you feels bad for the guy. He probably has no idea what's going on. What could she have done to him to get a kiss out of him? She'll likely just toss him aside now that his usefulness has been expended for whatever guess she had for tonight. Judging by the way she stomps back to her table, you can tell that some sort of plan was thwarted.

You look back to the Nurse, who looks back at you, a complex series of emotions running through her face.

"Anon," she says.

"Yeah?"

"Let's have this boxed and go back to my place."

You look back down at your barely touched food.

"Uhm, okay," you say.

Redheart closes the door behind you as you head to her fridge to drop off the leftovers. She moves to a small couch in the living room, and looks up to you.

"Well, then. A movie or something?" you ask. "What do you want to do?"

"I... I think I'd like for you to sit down," she says.

A pang of fear runs through your chest.

"Why?"

She fidgets with her hooves and stares at the tan carpet of her home.

"I think... I think we need to talk," she says.

You take step after heavy step to the couch and sit beside her. Reaching out a hand to her hooves, you grip them tightly. Your blood runs cold. Your mind races, but you cant focus your thought on one particular thought.

A million fears strike you at once.

"I... I don't think I can do this anymore," she says.

An invisible blow to the chest makes you lose your breath.

"I have to tell you something. I... can't lie to you or to myself like this anymore. Over the last few weeks, we've gotten to know each other, and... well. I haven't been fully honest to you."

You sit up straight.

"Well, you can tell me the truth. You know that," you say. "That isn't a reason to throw-"

"No, just," she says, struggling. "Let me finish. This is hard enough as it is."

Redheart pauses, burying her face in her hooves.

"Every pony has their price. I... have a lot of debts, Anon. A lot. Debt collectors come and take my things. It's hard to be a nurse with all of the schooling and loans…"

"Well, that's fine. We can work through them-"

"Then, a pony came to me, and said she could have the Princesses forgive my debt if I helped her," she said.

You fall silent. A burning rises in your chest. What is she saying?

"All I had to do was get in a relationship with the human in town... but, I didn't think I'd actually fall in love with you," she says. "I was supposed to throw tonight's date. Make it a double date. I just broke our contract. I can't do that to you. You're too sweet. Too kind. Too wonderful for some terrible mare like me to do this to you."

You rise from your seat and move across the room.

"That wasn't all. I was supposed to make things official. I was supposed to lure you in. She'd try all sorts of fetishes using me. Cheating. Cuckold. I was supposed to cheat on you. It would have been easy if I didn't put any feelings into it. But... I can't. I can't do that because... I love you, Anon."

You turn back to her, feeling numb to everything you're hearing.

"I just... I just can't keep lying to you. If you want to leave me now... I understand... and I deserve it. I'm... I'm so sorry, Anon."

You open your mouth to speak.

Author's Notes:

Comment. Choose Anon's Choice.

Forgiveness or Abandon.

You have until 06/27/2016 - at 6PM CST