When I finally awoke, I was twisted into a ball of sweat and overwhelming heat. My hooves pushed outward, almost of their own accord, and as I emerged from the depths of the blanketry I noticed how dark it still was. My eyes darted towards the clock, and I saw that it was already ten o’clock in the morning, and then I looked back towards the window. Oddly enough, the set of thick curtains we use in the winter had been put up, blocking out nearly all of the light.

Groaning, I rolled over, moving over the sheets onto the other side of the bed. Onto your side of the bed. For a moment, I stopped, afraid you would be there, but no; I fell into the divot in the mattress smoothly, without interruption. The bedding around me was warm; you had been there. Even after all that... you had come home, up to our bedroom, and slept next to me. And then you had left.

I inhaled sharply as I rose, pushing my frame off of the bed and gently touching down onto the carpet. Feeling my way through the darkness of the room, I eventually made my way around the bed and, using my magic, swept open the door. I was greeted by a breath of cool air from outside in the hall, and it wasn’t until then that I realised that the bedroom had become rather stuffy. Shrugging, I continued out into the hall.

A contemplative silence had fallen over the house, interrupted only by the clip-clop of my hooves as I trotted through the hall and down the stairs. I didn’t even have to check; I knew I was alone in the house. You had already taken Rarity to the train station, to return back to Ponyville. My only solace was that she would not be giving you a goodbye kiss.

Or at least that’s what I hoped.

The foyer and entryway were empty, of course, but I couldn’t help but linger at the foot of the stairs, simply gazing up towards the white walls as they sloped up to the ceiling, watching the way they curved...

I sighed, and turned away, trotting off through the living room and into the kitchen. There was no telling when you would return, so I figured I might as well get something to eat before then. I stopped in the middle of the tile, in front of a cabinet. Yet when I reached up to open it, I noticed a sliver of blue in the corner of my eye, on the counter. A small piece of paper, scrawled upon hastily with black ink. I glanced to either side before looking down.

Fleur,

I haven’t much time before we leave, so I’ll make this quick. I wanted to once again apologise for my actions, and I was very worried last night after you ran off. I know that you shall not be well for some time, but I hope that at the very least you can deal with what has happened.

I’m sure I’m one of the last ponies you would want to be talking to right now, but regardless, do let me know if you want to sit down and talk sometime. I could even ask another of my friends to talk with you, if you wish. I just want to to support you, if possible.

And, for what it’s worth, I’m quite flattered.
—R

By the time my eyes reached the bottom of the page and settled on the final cursive monogram, my cheeks were wet. And after a few moments of staring at the paper, I closed my eyes.

And I stood there, alone in the kitchen, trembling ever so slightly—and I wept.

Author's Notes:

This fic was featured by the Royal Canterlot Library in August 2018. You can read this feature as well as the interview I gave about the fic here.