Twilight Sparkle drew in one more agonized breath as her father forced a smile. He sat on the edge of her bed and stroked her forehead. “You… you’re going to get better. I promise,” he said.
He didn’t have to sugarcoat things for her. The truth never scared her. And any one of these precious breaths might taper into nothing. The doctor was surely on her way, for all the good it would do. She’d seen that look on her father’s face before, when grandma—when she…
Twilight sniffled, but she had to be strong, for her parents, if not for herself.
“W-when I’m gone—”
Her father turned away. “Please, don’t talk like that.”
“When I’m gone,” she said louder, with the last bit of her strength.
Then he rolled his eyes. “Missing school will not, in fact, kill you. You’re coming on vacation with us.”
She only glowered back. “Fine.”