Fluttershy sat quietly on the scarlet leather sofa, wringing her hands together as she waited for her therapist to retrieve her file and start their semi-weekly session. She had been going to him since her uncharacteristic tirade on Rainbow Dash almost four weeks earlier. Dr. Hindsight straightened up after pulling Fluttershy’s chart from the filing cabinet and walked to the chair adjacent to the couch.
“So how was your weekend, Ms. Fluttershy?” he asked in a soothing tone.
“It was… okay,” Fluttershy said quietly.
“Care to tell me anything about it?”
Fluttershy continued to fidget as she thought about what she wanted to tell him. She looked at the floor and then to the doctor. There was something about the smile he had today that allowed her mind to open up more than normal.
“The girls and I went, um, to the mall on Saturday. Well, I went to have lunch with them,” she elaborated as she nervously twisted her silky pink locks around her wrists.
“Would you care to share what happened with me?”
Fluttershy shifted slightly. “I… I guess so.”
”Is… is this seat taken?” Fluttershy asked meekly as she approached a table in the food court. The four occupants of the table looked in her direction with a combination of surprise and joy. Before anyone could say anything, Fluttershy was scooped up into a tight bear hug.
“Of course it isn’t, silly,” Pinkie Pie said as she released Fluttershy. “We made sure to save it for you just like we do every Saturday.”
Rarity gave Fluttershy a small hug when she got seated. “So wonderful of you to join us, darling. Everything going okay? We hardly see you outside of class anymore.”
“It's difficult but I'd like to think I'm getting a little better each day. I still miss them dearly,” Fluttershy replied as a stray tear made its way down her left cheek, which went unnoticed by everyone.
“We all miss them, Sugarcube,” Applejack responded with a warm smile. “We understand that it's been devastating for ya since y’all happened to be the one to find Sunset.” She reached out and held Fluttershy’s hand. “Remember, any time ya need someone to talk to, day or night, we’ll be a phone call away. Y'all ain't gotta go through this hell by yerself. Okay?”
Fluttershy returned the smile and nodded her head. She then turned her attention to Rainbow Dash, who was avoiding eye contact and picking at her food. “Rainbow? Are you okay?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah. Just thinking,” Rainbow said quickly.
“Are you sure? You've been quieter than Wallflower Blush ever since Fluttershy showed up,” Pinkie asked.
Rainbow made a quick scan of her friends’ facial expressions. “Its… I still feel bad about what I said a few days after Sunset’s death.”
“Rainbow Dash, I forgave you for those comments weeks ago,” Fluttershy told her.
“I know but I've had time to think and my comments were way out of line. It was insensitive of me and it eats at me daily,” Rainbow said, her tone of voice growing sadder with each word.
“Darling, there is no need to continue to beat yourself up over something that we’ve all put behind us,” Rarity said as she lifted Rainbow’s chin. “The guilt you're feeling isn't healthy and the more you let it in, the worse the feeling gets until there's no turning back.”
An unsettling wave of emotion began building up in Fluttershy’s chest as she listened to Rarity’s words. She wanted to say something in response but held her tongue instead; at least for the moment.
“Still… I made that insensitive comment while Fluttershy was crying over losing someone she was in love with,” Rainbow said, which was immediately followed by loud, angry gasp from across the table.
“How. Dare. You.” Fluttershy growled. “I told you that in confidence.”
Rainbow suddenly realized what she said and immediately attempted damage control. “Fluttershy, I-”
Fluttershy swiftly pushed her chair back and stood up in a heartbroken rage. “Stow it Rainbow. I… I knew it was a mistake to come. I… I…” Fluttershy cried before running off.
“Fluttershy, wait!” shouted Rainbow Dash as she stood up to give chase only to be stopped by an orange hand.
“Dash, Ah think you've done enough damage today. Just let her be. One of us will talk to her later,” Applejack scolded as the girls watched their friend disappear into the crowded mall.
By the time Fluttershy had finished telling Dr. Hindsight about the lunch at the mall, she had drawn her knees to her chest and was weeping softly. The shame she was feeling mixed strongly with the guilty feeling that resulted from her time with Sunset shortly before she died.
Dr. Hindsight handed her a box of tissues, which she gladly accepted. “I know its hard at the moment, but would you mind telling me what sort of feeling you had for your friend?” he asked.
Fluttershy let out a few sniffles before answering. “I… I… I had fallen in love with her. I never got to tell her that.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was afraid she would get mad at me.”
“Miss Fluttershy, we talked about this before. Keeping your feelings bottled up inside isn't good for you; especially if its love.”
Fluttershy wiped her eyes with a tissue. “Wh-why love?” she asked.
“Because love is a strong emotion. If you are afraid to share it with the person you have that feeling for, it hurts that much more when you don't have the opportunity anymore,” he said as he held her hand.
“B-but how can I get the pain to go away?”
“Did you begin that journal I suggested during your first session?”
Fluttershy quickly looked the other direction. “N-no.”
“Well, I highly recommend that you start one after the events of Saturday afternoon. Every page of the journal will be a letter to Sunset Shimmer. Now, you don't have to write one every day, just when you feel the need to write something that you wish that you could tell her,” Dr. Hindsight explained. “Okay?”
Fluttershy slowly nodded her head in response.
“This might be a sensitive question, especially considering the information you just gave me, but have you visited Sunset’s grave since the funeral?” he asked.
She replied with a no that could barely be heard. She didn't have the willpower to visit her late friend’s grave. The unwarranted blame she kept placing on herself over the events of the last month or so was the main reason she didn't go anywhere near the cemetery. Her heart just couldn't take it. However, she listened closely to his advice.
“I believe that if you are able to express some of your thoughts and emotions at the gravesite, it may give you the jumpstart that you've been needing for your path to recovery,” he elaborated.
“Do you think it will help me to stop being so mean to Rainbow Dash and the others?” Fluttershy nervously asked.
Dr. Hindsight closed the file folder he was holding before answering. “I'm not certain, however in other cases I've seen that were similar to yours, it has worked.”
A small timer chimed from the desk signaling the end of the session. Fluttershy rose from her position shook the doctor’s hand and left the office. It was the last time she would see him.