//------------------------------//
// Glimpse 
// Story: How to Disappear Completely 
// by shortskirtsandexplosions 
//------------------------------//

	"You wouldn't be the first stallion to make that choice," Soarin' said.

Flash Sentry blew out the side of his muzzle.  "Don't you mean 'mistake?'"

"I don't believe in calling inevitable things 'mistakes,'" Soarin' clarified.  "Dude, I may not know you.  But I can tell that you're young.  You've been through one bad relationship and another nonexistent one.  But—y'know what?  It's not the end of the world."

Flash stared straight ahead.  "I wish I'd witness the beginning of the world."

Soarin' stared at him contemplatively.

Flash eventually met his eyes with his own.  "What I got—at best—was a glimpse.  Between Miss First and Miss Second... I caught a glimpse of what living must be like.  And... and ever since..."  He grimaced.

Soarin' leaned in ever so slightly.  "Yes...?"

Flash hesitated at first.  "Ever since... Miss First turned into a good person and told me what I needed to hear... that I had to let Miss Second go... well..."  He brushed his mane back.  "I've just... been sinking.  Nonstop.  Into a deep dark hole.  And... what sucks the most about it is that the hole is no different than what my life has been before... what it's always been."  He breathed deeply.  "I've always been a loser."

"Come on, dude—"

"It's true," Flash said in a deep tone.  "I'm not... entirely certain what distracted me before.  But my life has always been empty... not meaningless.  Just... dull.  Without direction.  And I don't really know how I carried on before.  Maybe I just didn't care... and now I do... but I'm at a loss as to what to do about it?"

"Because you feel so abandoned?"

"Because I feel so alone," Flash confessed.  "And... after Miss First used me and Miss Second ignored me... I find myself in the same place I've always been... and loathing it.  And... and I just can't figure out why this had to happen.  What inspired the universe to bring me into the shining light and just drop me right back in.  It just... feels like the whole world decided to wipe its butt with me."  He gulped.  "I'm not wanting to complain. Can't really blame anyone or anything but myself, really... but... but beneath all of the sighs and all of the days spent lying in bed... I kinda feel angry, y'know?"

"Can't blame you."

"Or at least..."  Flash leaned back on his haunches.  "I want to feel angry."

"I recall someone who recently gave me some sound advice."  Soarin' smiled.  "Maybe what you need is a change in routine, bro."

Flash smiled pathetically.  "What do you think I'm doing here?"

Soarin' raised an eyebrow.

"This isn't my home, Soarin'," Flash said.  "I don't belong here."

"If you ask me, you fit right in," Soarin' replied smootely.  "You're a good pony, Brad.  You don't deserve the kind of crud you've gone through."

Flash was listening to Soarin's words, but his eyes—as well as his mind—were elsewhere.