//------------------------------// // Chapter 27: Sunset Shimmer's Song // Story: A Search for Something More // by HAKDurbin //------------------------------// At this moment, it feels like all time and space stood still. I can feel my heart slowly break more than it already has as Sunset Shimmer and Rarity look at Sonata and me in pure shock. Octavia has a new boyfriend. Sonata looks like she feels worse for finally giving me this news. Eventually, I manage to snap out of my state of shock and ask, "W-what do you mean? Since when?" Sonata looks down at the ground sadly as she speaks. "Since New Year's," She answers with her voice cracking. "According to Vinyl, she met some guy in Prance named Treble Clef, and Vinyl encouraged her to pursue a relationship with him. One thing led to another, and they started to try a long-distance relationship." "But that would mean they've only been together for at least a couple of weeks," Sunset Shimmer points out. "How can you be sure?" "Because, Tavi told me," Sonata says, which makes my heart break more. "She said that this Treble guy is really sweet and just the kind of guy she was looking for after dumping Rough Draft. She made it seem like she's really happy to be with this guy." I can't believe I'm hearing any of this. Octavia just got together with another guy just like that? Was she so mad at me that she wanted to forget everything we've been through? I step back until I find a wall to lean on as I try to take all of this in. "N-n-no," I manage to say. "It can't be. She couldn't. Not like this. Not this quickly. This can't be happening." Sonata walks up to me with new tears running down her eyes. "I'm afraid it is," She cries. "I tried to protest, but they didn't listen to me and told me to go away. Rough Draft, I'm so sorry! I tried to reason with them. Really I did. Please forgive me!" I look up to see Sonata still in tears and looking guilty of the situation. I can't help but smile at the way she feels devastated for failing to fix something that is beyond her control. I walk over to her and give her a comforting hug. "There's nothing to forgive, Sonata," I say, trying to keep myself from crying too. "None of this is your fault. You did your best, and that's all I could ask of you or any of our friends. But now we know that Octavia and the others made these choices, and this might be what I needed. If she is this quick to move on, then at least I know now." "But it shouldn't be this way," Sonata protests. "It can't be. She loves you, I know it. She just needs to see that she and Vinyl and the others are wrong. If we could just -" "Sonata, it's okay," I say quietly. "No, it isn't," she sobs. "This isn't how it's supposed to be. This shouldn't end like this. Heck, it shouldn't be ending at all. It's not fair!" "I know, Sonata," I say, still trying to hold back tears. "But there's nothing we can do. Octavia has moved on, and that's that." Sonata tries to protest, but before she can say anything else, I turn and run. Sonata, Rarity, and Sunset Shimmer call out my name, but I keep on running as I feel tears coming down my cheeks. Suddenly, a hand grabs my shoulder and forces me to turn around to see a worried Sunset Shimmer behind me. "Go away, Sunset Shimmer," I say bitterly. "Rough Draft, please don't do this," Sunset Shimmer says. "I know it hurts, but you don't have to -" "Don't you get it?! I screwed up!" I snap angrily. "I'm the one who tried to find a gift for Octavia; I'm the one who lied to her, saying I was staying at home, I'm the one who was at the mall with you without telling her. If I had just told her the truth before or just never tried to get her a gift or...I don't know, stop bringing my dislike for you into our relationship as constantly as I did, this would never have happened. We could have texted each other regularly while she was in Prance. We would be holding each other in our arms every night before she left with her family. I could have been at the airport when she got back with flowers or something, and she'd run to me, and we'd be kissing to no end or something. Anything but her replacing me so quickly like a child whose parents just got them a new toy to replace the broken one. Heck, if anything, I should be thanking the Crusaders for posting that video. I guess I had to find out sooner or later that I was in a relationship that was wonderful at first, but then she would replace me like that. I just..." I'm about to turn around and run again when Sunset Shimmer grabs my hand and forces me to look at her. "There was nothing you could have done," She says calmly. "No one could have predicted that finding a present for the girl you love would have led to any of this. No one could have guessed that someone would be near your house and decide to record that video. It's no one's fault; it just happens." "Easy for you to say," I say coldly. "You don't know what it's like to be cast out on the spot and to be treated like -" "Don't I?!" Sunset Shimmer suddenly snaps. "You don't think I also know what it's like to be framed and have the people I care about turn their backs on me just like that even after everything we've been through? Do you think watching my friends abandon me?" "No, because you got to keep your happy ending," I shout. "You still get to have fun and hang out with your friends as opposed to watching them move on with their lives like yours didn't count for squat. You get to act like everything is perfect with you while -" "My life is far from perfect, Rough Draft!" Sunset Shimmer barks. "Yes, I got my friends back, but the pain is still there. It still hurts that they discarded me like that even if everything turned out alright in the end. There are wounds that I don't know will heal and maybe never will because they thought I was acting just as cruel as I have been all my life. You think just because you were dumped by your girlfriend you're the only one who is experiencing any pain? Well news flash for you, pal; stuff happens. We fight, we yell, we abandon one another, and sometimes things don't get patched up. Why should you even care if some girl dumped you when there are plenty of other girls who might want to spend time with you and be more willing to trust you than she did? Stop holding on to something that doesn't exist anymore and move on with your life!" For a minute, nothing is said. We stare at each other angrily, not willing to budge. Eventually, however, I give in and let out a depressed sigh. "You're right," I say. "I should move on from her, but I can't. It still hurts, and that's not going to change. "Yes, it will," Sunset Shimmer says calmly. "How do you know?" I ask. Sunset Shimmer looks at me sadly before she looks down and says, "I just do. Because if you don't let go, you'll never see the other possibilities that life has in store for you." "Yeah? Well, maybe I'm not willing to see any of those possibilities," I say coldly before I start to run again. I ignore Sunset Shimmer calling out to me again and don't hear her try to follow me, which suits me just fine. At this moment, I've decided that I don't want to hear anything from anyone from now on. I don't want to hear anyone try to comfort me, encourage me, or try anything else to help me. I just want to be alone. ********************************************************************************************* 3rd Person P.O.V. It has been a couple of weeks since Sonata gave Rough Draft the news about Octavia, and he's worse than he was before. He doesn't talk to anyone or even eat lunch at school with Soarin, Caramel, Sonata, and the Rainbooms. He just stays by himself, refusing to speak to them with an expressionless face. It's currently lunchtime at the cafeteria, and Soarin is watching Rough Draft eating his lunch alone at the far side of the cafeteria while he eats with everyone else. Soarin sighs sadly for his best friend before a set of fingers snap in front of him. He jumps, startled, and turns to see Rainbow Dash sitting next to him with an annoyed glare. "Soarin, did you hear anything I said?" She asks irritated. "Oh, sorry, Dash," he says. "Guess I got too focused worrying about Rough Draft again." "Yeah, I can see that," Rainbow Dash retorts. "So why don't you do something about it already?" "We've tried, Rainbow Dash." Caramel says. "We've tried to talk to him during class and get him out of the house after school or during the weekend, but he refuses to say anything or leave his room when we're not at school. His mom says he's been staying in his room occasionally doing homework, but otherwise, lies in bed and listens to sad music on his phone. Somehow having Octavia find another guy to date so quickly hurt him worse than getting dumped." "Well, of course, that would be worse," Applejack states. "He was feeling hopeful that she was going to realize that the whole video was all a misunderstanding and they'd get back together. None of you would have dreamed that she'd move on like that. It's practically as cruel as what Sunset did to him. No offense, Sunset." Sunset Shimmer sighs sadly. "None taken," she says. "But if we're being honest, I think what Octavia has done is worse than what I did to him in a way. What I did to him was an act, but she was purely happy to be with him, and yet she dumped him just as easily and as quickly as I did. I'm not going to act like I don't understand why she thought she had to break up with him, but this is a little too far." "Well, I don't care what the reason is," Sonata says with a pout. "I am never speaking to Tavi or the other E.M.R. guys again. They discarded my buddy and turned him into a hollow shell of who he was, and I am never going to forgive them for that." "Now, now, no need to be so hot-tempered," Applejack says calmly. "Being angry at them ain't gonna solve anything." "Agreed," Rarity says. "But that still leaves us with the dilemma of helping Rough Draft out of this miserable state. I, for one, can't bear to see him over there alone anymore." "Oh dear, I'm not sure what we can do to help," Fluttershy whispers worryingly. "What about a big party?" Pinkie Pie suggests optimistically. "A party is always good for cheering someone up." "That's a nice idea, Pinkie, but I don't think a party is going to help Rough Draft with what he's going through." Sunset Shimmer says politely. "I think what he needs is something a little more serious. Something to help him snap out of his broken state. Something that says that we want our nice, nerdy, yet silly friend back." Everyone in the table nods in agreement. "But how are we going to do that when he doesn't even leave his house after school?" Soarin asks. Sonata groans in despair. "If only I had siren magic again except I could use it to make people happy instead of hating each other," she moans. "There's gotta be something we can do to help Roughy." Everyone at the table looks at Sonata with raised eyebrows. She notices their reaction and giggles nervously. "Sorry, I'm trying to think of a nickname for him, and that's the best I can think of." She says. "I mean, how can you come up with a good nickname out of a name like Rough Draft?" "You don't. Believe me, Caramel and I have tried." Soarin says bluntly while Caramel nods in agreement. But at that moment, Sunset Shimmer gets sn idea and says, "Well, we may not have magic to help him out of this state, but you might be on the right track with music, Sonata." "Really?" Sonata asks, confused. "Yes, why don't we perform a song to get him out of his depressed state?" Sunset Shimmer suggests. "Maybe a big gesture like that is what we need to get his attention long enough for all of us to give him some kind of intervention." "How are you going to do that?" Caramel questions. "It's not like we can just convince him to go to the music room right after class." "Who says we gotta bring him to the music when we can bring the music to him?" Sunset Shimmer suggests. "Hmmm. It sounds like you got something sneaky in mind, Sunset." Rainbow Dash says with a grin. "What's the plan?" "Yeah, how can I help?" Sonata asks before she frowns sadly. "Oh yeah, I can't sing anymore." "Maybe not, but maybe you could grab his attention before we play?" Sunset Shimmer suggests. "Ooo. I like that idea!" Sonata says bubbly. "And Pinkie Pie, you can help me." Pinkie Pie squeals in delight. "Ooo, I love grabbing people's attention!" She screams. "Hey, what about us?" Soarin demands. "Caramel and I wanna help too." "Yeah." Caramel concurs. "Alright, alright, settle down." Sunset Shimmer commands. "You're all going to get a chance to help. Here's what I'm thinking: first, I'm gonna need your help, Fluttershy." "What? Me?" Fluttershy asks nervously. "Yes, you," Sunset Shimmer says. "I have a song in mind for the occasion, and I need your help with writing it." *********************************************************************************************** Rough Draft's P.O.V. I'm all alone in my room again. School just came and went without any complaints. Soarin and Caramel were trying to cheer me up during class again, but I just ignored them. These days I stay at home and listen to some breakup music. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7w4_GR26f0&feature=emb_logo Hearing songs like this is all I feel like doing anymore. Octavia moved on with another guy, and it feels like all I can do is listen to songs like this that feel like they connect with how I'm feeling. I accept that it's over for good between Octavia and me, and there's nothing left but think of how the break up hurts and how much I thought she cared. It's all I can think of doing after school nowadays: listen to music on my phone and lie in bed. "Rough Draft? Rooooouuuuugggghhhh Drrrraaaaaaaffffffttttt," says a high-pitched voice. I have my eyes closed and my headphones on my ears, and yet somehow I can hear this voice. I frown in confusion as I try to focus on the music. "Rough Draft, this is Gandalf," the voice says. "You will go to the Dagobah system. There you will learn from Master Spider-Man, the Guardian of the Galaxy from Cybertron, who instructed me. He will teach you the ways of the Hogwarts so that you can defeat Skynet and save the munchkins who live in the Dwarvish and Klingon land of cherry-and-vanilla-flavored watermelons." What. The. Heck? I snap my eyes open to find Sonata and Pinkie Pie standing next to me, trying hard not to laugh. I scream in surprise and almost fall off my bed much to Sonata and Pinkie Pie's amusement. They squeal in laughter while I try to process what just happened. "See? I told you that would do it." Pinkie Pie giggles. "No nerd can resist reacting to some dysfunctional quote from the stuff they're into." "Sonata, Pinkie Pie, what in the world are you two doing here?!" I exclaim. "Sonata, I thought I told you not to break into my house!" "We didn't break-in. Your mom let us in," Sonata answers plainly. "She's totally behind on the plan, by the way." "Plan? What plan?" I ask, still shaken. "The plan that's outside your window, silly," Pinkie Pie says as she opens my window. "So come and look outsiiiiiiide!" Pinkie Pie jumps out of my window, and I panic running after her, afraid of her falling to her death. But when I look through the window, I am dumbfounded to see Sunset Shimmer, Fluttershy, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie standing in my front yard with their instruments and sound equipment set up by Big Mac, who is standing behind them adjusting a soundboard with Caramel and Soarin standing next to him. Before I do anything else, Sonata walks up from behind me and holds me by the shoulders. "Sonata, what are you doing?" I ask. "Making sure you don't try anything," she answers. "Now stop talking and just watch." I reluctantly listen to her and turn my head in time to see Sunset Shimmer adjusting her microphone and clearing her throat. "This is a song about a friend of mine who is going through some hard times." She announces on the mic. She turns to the rest of the group and nods before she turns back to look up to me, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath before she plays her guitar. The melody starts soft yet deep as Sunset Shimmer plays with a focused look on her face. After a few seconds, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie join in with their tambourine and drums, respectively. Soon the whole band joins in with Rainbow Dash with her guitar and Rarity with her keytar. They repeat the melody one more time before Sunset Shimmer walks closer to the microphone and begins to sing. A few more questions in me one for the misery that be that's put me down and where I've put on my spiritless face. I'm trying to figure out how in the world can I cast out this agonizing pain that feels so out of place? My mind wants to let it go now, can't help but wonder how when my heart's transformed into a hollow space deep inside of me. So I'm left lost in this ordeal. Where's that joyfulness that I can't feel? The music builds as the Rainbooms join Sunset Shimmer in singing, I knew a guy who wanted to create his own worlds of fiction, And like a child, he believed in love without a reason. Without a word he gave himself to the void and I've been calling out to find that broken person As they finish the chorus, the Rainbooms begin glowing, and with a flash, their pony ears, tails, and wings for Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash appear as they play. I notice small smiles coming from Soarin and Caramel's faces as if they are hopeful that what the Rainbooms are doing is working. Sunset Shimmer still has her eyes closed, and her face focused as she begins the next verse. Locked in my pitch-black room where many thoughts run through me. Who took that comforting light that once burned so brightly in me? Is this just a profound phase, a never-ending maze that keeps me running From everything that I could be? I wish that I can go back. I wish I can bring things right on track Not feel this torture That's eating at my very soul. I've been out too long Why does everything feel so terribly wrong? I knew a guy who wanted to create his own worlds of fiction, and like a child, he believed in love without a reason. Without a word he gave himself to the void and I've been calling out to find that broken person He used to dream of living life mighty and fearless. He'd carry on the ongoing fight against the darkness. It's been too long since I've seen his goofy smile and I've been calling out to find that broken person. The music grows more intense as Sunset Shimmer begins to play a guitar solo. The notes she plays roars loud and fierce, and her face goes from calm and focused to intense as she pours her emotions into the music. I stare at her in awe as her passion for the solo rings in my ears. Even Sonata, Big Mac, Caramel, and Soarin look at her curiously while Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash have trouble focusing on their parts as they notice their friend putting more of her all into the music than they expected. Sunset Shimmer finishes the solo with a high note, and the other Rainbooms snaps out of their distraction in time to join her in reprising the second chorus. I knew a guy who wanted to create his own worlds of fiction, And like a child, he believed in love without a reason. Without a word he gave himself to the void and I've been calling out to find that broken person He used to dream of living life mighty and fearless. He'd carry on the ongoing fight against the darkness. It's been too long since I've seen his goofy smile and I've been calling out to find that broken person. I miss you. (I miss you). I miss you. (I miss you.) Come back. I miss you. (I miss you). I miss you. (I miss you.) Come back. I miss you. (I miss you). I miss you. (I miss you.) Come back. I miss you. (I miss you). I miss you. (I miss you.) Come back. After the last few lyrics, the music ends slowly. The pony ears, tails, and wings fade, and everyone turns to me, waiting for a response. I, on the other hand, don't know what to think or say. I mean, it was a nice, heartfelt song, but given that I was suddenly taken out of my mourning zone just to watch the Rainbooms play it, I don't know how to react. "Hey, Rough Draft," Rainbow Dash suddenly calls out. "Can we come in already? It's cold out, and I feel like a dweeb performing like this." I snap out of my shocked expression as I say, "Uh, yeah sure. Come in." Rainbow Dash races to my front door while everyone else in my front yard walks behind her. I turn to Sonata, who looks at me with a happy face. "What in the world was that about?" I ask. "It's probably best that we explain downstairs," she answers as she makes a gesture to my door. I keep my confused face as I reluctantly follow her out of my room to the living room downstairs, where everyone else is waiting for us. "Uh, hey guys," I say awkwardly. Everyone says hi in response before Fluttershy speaks. "Um, did you like the song?" She asks shyly. "I helped Sunset Shimmer write it." "Uh, yeah, it was nice, Fluttershy," I say. "Which leads me to my question; why did you guys decide to have a little concert in front of my house?" "Isn't it obvious, dude?" Caramel asks. "That song was about you. It was an intervention song." "Yeah, we miss you," Soarin says. "You haven't been yourself since Sonata told you that Octavia's dating someone else." I frown after hearing that name. "Yeah," I say, blandly. "I've just needed some time to -" "That's the problem, you dope," Rainbow Dash ridicules. "Rainbow Dash!" Applejack ridicules back. "Sorry, but it's getting annoying how this guy's attitude has been upsetting my boyfriend and his other best friend just by moping every day," Rainbow Dash defends. Rarity sighs and decides to speak. "Perhaps Sunset should explain given that this is all her idea," she says. Everyone else makes words of agreement, and we turn to Sunset Shimmer, who looks at everyone and sighs. "Yeah, I guess that's fair," she says. I frown as I figure out what is going on. Sunset Shimmer walks over to me and opens her mouth to talk, but I quickly raise my hand to stop her. "I know what you're going to say," I say calmly. "But you gotta understand that I really can't do what you're asking of me. I know that it's over between Octavia and me, and I've accepted it, but I can't, and I don't want to stop thinking about her." Sunset Shimmer looks at me compassionately and puts her arm around me with a sad smile. "Yeah, I get that, Rough Draft. I really do," she says. "But the way you've been acting since then is not healthy. You're dwelling on something that is officially over and you've been pushing all of your friends away, and they miss you. We all miss you. We know it's probably will always hurt, but maybe it's time for you to let her go." I sigh as I turn my back on her and look at the floor sadly. "I can't," I say. "The pain feels like it's all I have left of her. Like feeling the pain is all I can and should do from now on and maybe one day she might see the light and come back to me and -" "Rough Draft, that's never going to happen!" Rainbow Dash shouts. "Rainbow Dash!" Everyone else shouts. I feel an urge to yell at Rainbow Dash too, but before I move, Sunset Shimmer puts her hands on both of my cheeks and forces me to move my head closer to her until were are mere inches apart. "Rough Draft, please listen to me," she says calmly. "What you had with Octavia was wonderful. It was a beautiful first relationship that anyone could have, and I'm happy that you experienced it. But no matter how many times you think about it or how much you can imagine things turning up the way you want it to in the end, deep down, you know the truth: Octavia Melody is never coming back to you. She's moved on, and you're only hurting yourself by struggling between grief and acceptance and avoiding everyone who cares about you. Remember, I once took a path believing that pushing away anyone who cared about me and going my own way would lead me to the thing I wanted most even though it was made clear that I will never achieve it and it wasn't until after I turned into a creature of darkness that I began to realize my mistake. You, on the other hand, have more than just a princess of Equestria who wants to be there for you and help you out of your struggle, and you're avoiding them for nothing. Please don't force yourself to be alone as I once did." I look down at the floor pondering on Sunset Shimmer's words. For weeks now, it has felt so right to be sad about what Octavia has done and the mistakes I made, but maybe she's right. Maybe I have just been forcing myself to be something I don't need to be anymore. Then a thought occurs to me on how this is almost a complete cycle. When Sunset Shimmer used me, I held a grudge for such a long time even when everyone told me that I needed to move on, and in the end, it caused more problems than solved anything, and it ultimately led to this part in my life right now. Now, I'm focusing on something that is also in the past, and I don't want to leave it alone anymore. Maybe this time I finally should. I lift my head to look at Sunset Shimmer, saying, "You're right, Sunset Shimmer. I need to let her go." Everyone makes sudden cheers of joy while Sunset Shimmer looks at me with a hopeful smile. "Well, if you really mean it, then that just leaves one order of business left," Soarin announces as he walks over to Sunset Shimmer and me. "And what would that be?" I ask. "You have a whole bunch of pictures of you and Octavia from back when you two were together on your phone, right?" Soarin asks, which I reply with a nod. "Then you gotta delete them." "What?" I say. "I agree that I gotta stop moping, but isn't that a little extreme?" "No, he's right," Caramel says. "If you are to move on fully, you have to let go of whatever memory you have of her. You don't have anything else to remind yourself of her since you gave away the necklace and the story you made for her. So, all that's left is all of your photos of her." "Normally I'm against this kind of thing," Pinkie Pie intervenes. "But as much as I hate to say it since I helped you two get together, you're never going to fully stop being all mopey and dopey unless you've gotten rid of everything about her." I hesitate for a moment before I sigh reluctantly. "I guess you're right," I say. "If I'm supposed to move on from Octavia, I have to let go completely." I take out my phone and open the gallery app. I open the folder that contains all of the photos I have of Octavia and me and select them one by one, giving each of them one more look as I go. Finally, once the whole collection is selected, my finger reluctantly touches the delete button. A loading bar opens up, and when the entire meter turns blue, a box opens, saying all of the photos are deleted. I give one big heavy sigh as I lift my phone to show everyone as I say, "It's done." Everyone gives me a small supporting smile before Applejack speaks. "So, how do you feel, sugarcube?" She asks. I think about it for a moment before I answer. "You know? I feel surprisingly better," I say. "Like a big weight has been lifted from my whole body, and now I can finally live life in peace like Bilbo Baggins giving up the one ring." Suddenly, Sonata gasps loudly before she lets out a scream. "Oh my gosh!" she squeals. "He spoke nerd! He spoke nerd! He's his normal self again! She runs over to me and gives me a bear-crushing hug. I gasp for air as she lifts me up and twirls me around before putting me down. I try to catch my breath before Soarin, Caramel, Big Mac, and the Rainbooms crowd over me in happiness. "Great to have you back, buddy," Caramel says while patting me on the back. "Yeah, great to see you act like yourself, bro," Soarin says. "We oughta celebrate this moment." "I'm way ahead of you, Soarin," Pinkie Pie says proudly. We all look at her in confusion as Applejack asks, "What do you mean?" Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and Pinkie Pie squeals in excitement. "Pizza's here!" she shouts before she races to the front door. "Wait, she ordered pizza?" I ask. "That kinda sounds like a risk when you're not sure if your plan was going to work or not, don't you think?" Rainbow Dash sighs before she pats me on the back. "Believe me, dude, the less you try to figure out what goes on in Pinkie Pie's brain, the better off you'll be," she says. "Besides, I don't know about you, but I'm always down for some pizza." Everyone else makes comments of agreement before they follow Rainbow Dash to the front door. I watch them leave and smile. It feels nice having all of these friends here to help me. A whole year ago, I was as friendless as anyone can be, and now all these people have my back. Sunset Shimmer's right, it is best not be alone anymore. But then my smile falters as a thought enters my mind. I decide to go upstairs to my room before a voice calls over to me. "Hey, Rough Draft, aren't you going to join us?" I turn to see Sunset Shimmer looking at me, concerned about what I'm doing. I give her a reassuring smile as I respond. "Oh yeah, I just need to do something really fast. I'll be back down in a couple of minutes." I say. Sunset Shimmer gives me a half-smile, still looking a little worried as she says, "Oh, okay. Well, don't take too long." "I won't," I promise as I turn around and go up the stairs. ******************************************************************************************************* When I make it to my room, I close the door and let out a sigh. I walk up to my laptop that is sitting on top of my desk and open it. I open a windows explorer file and go into My Pictures, and inside are all the photos of me and Octavia that I deleted from my phone. Did you think I would take so many pictures of me with my very first girlfriend and not back it up in case something happened to my phone? Frankly, I'm a little surprised at least Soarin and Caramel didn't consider it. But with that said, I know keeping them there is not going to help me, but that doesn't mean I have to destroy all the memories I have left of Octavia. I take out a small 1-gigabyte flash drive and plug it into my computer. I copy all of the photos into the drive, and once the drive is ejected from my laptop, I delete the folder. Then I open one of my desk drawers that is packed with a bunch of comics, action figures, and other stuff and give the flash drive a meaningful look. "Goodbye, Love," I whisper to the drive before I bury it into the pile of stuff inside the drawer and then close it. I sigh in relief before I feel my phone vibrating, and I open it to see a text. Soarin: Come on, man. We're all waiting on you! I smile as I turn off my phone and leave my room to join the others for pizza, feeling ready to face life with a more positive attitude.