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“Figured you’d be here.”
“I need to be.”
“I understand why ya feel that way, but ya also need to get some rest.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Have you slept once since she… since everything happened?”
“Here and there. I’m fine. I need to be here when she wakes up.”
“Guess I can’t fault ya for that. Coulda answered your phone at least.”
“I… I didn’t know what to say. It’s not like there’s any change. She’s still… she’s…”
“I know, I know. Of course you’ll tell all of us the second she wakes up, I wouldn’t bother you about that. But I was callin’ about you, Sunset. Are ya at least eating?”
“Yeah.”
“Bullshit.”
“…yeah. I think I ate today. I don’t really remember.”
“That’s what I figured. Brought ya something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Come on, eat a little. For me, if not for yourself. I’m worried about you.”
“Fine.”
“Ya know, the rest of us are here too. We could work something out, stay in shifts so that way someone’s here when she wakes up. I know ya want it to be you, but…”
“I’m staying, AJ. It’s my fault she’s here.”
“Hey now, none of that. This ain’t your fault.”
“It is.”
“It’s not.”
“If I’d paid more attention to my driving, I could’ve reacted better.”
“Ya couldn’t’ve controlled some idiot driving into your lane, Sunset. This isn’t your fault.”
“But if I hadn’t been going so fast, I could’ve stopped. if I kept my eyes on the road better, I could’ve done something different. This is my fault, AJ. I know you don’t want to believe it is, but it is.”
“Jesus Christ, Sunset, are ya really that determined to be the villain every time you don’t save the day? Ya did all ya could, all anyone could ask of ya. No one blames you, Sunset. No one but you.”
“I’ll believe that when Fluttershy and Sky are okay.”
“…Sunset…”
“Yeah, I know. I know okay. She’s dead. She’s gone and she’s not coming back. And it’s all… it’s all…”
“Shh, come here. Go on, let it out.”
“I just… I can’t do this, AJ! I can’t, I can’t…”
“I know. But you still will. I’m here for ya, and so are Pinkie and Rainbow and everyone else. And Fluttershy’s gonna be okay, I promise.”
“If she doesn’t make it, I don’t… I don’t know what I’ll do…”
“She will. Listen to me, Fluttershy’s gonna be just fine, ya hear?”
“And Sky…”
“…”
“Do you… do you believe in heaven?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I don’t. I never have. Or anything else like that.”
“Sunset…”
“So… if there isn’t a heaven… Then what does that mean for Sky?”
“I don’t want to tell ya what to believe, but… Something as good as that little girl, well… I just don’t believe that she can just be gone, just like that. There’s gotta be a heaven, Sunset. There’s just gotta be.”
“I just… I wish I could be sure of that.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“AJ, could you… stay here with me tonight? I… I don’t want to be alone…”
“Yeah, I’ll stay right here. Don’t you worry about that.”
“Does it… ever stop hurting?”
“…Mostly, yeah. It takes a long time, and sometimes it comes back and hits ya again. But someday, I promise you you’ll feel alright again.”
“I want to believe that, but… I feel so hollow.”
“I understand. But you can trust me.”
“And… and you’re sure Fluttershy will wake up?”
“Of course I am. I promised, didn’t I?”
“Yeah. Thanks, AJ.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“And when she wakes up, maybe… maybe that’ll mean you’re right about heaven, too.”