Fantasy was a comfort so cruel in nature. Every day I’d find myself sinking back into its warmth, relinquishing all logic in the wonder of impossibility. The more absurd the better. Stories could stop and continue on a whim. Characters would stroll their way in and out of the plots, happy to join in the chaos whenever they had the chance.
There was an art to it, a fine design that demanded attention. I could create a playful symphony that became sweeter with every passing note, time drifting away as I listened. Not even the loudest frustration could break its embrace. I knew better than to let that happen.
Yet somedays my surroundings would snap back into focus and everything would become but a distant dream, my stories revealed for the delusions they were. It was all make-believe nonsense that would cost me everything down the line. Fiction. Lies I told myself over and over again.
And then one day it wasn’t.
“Isn’t this the dumbest shit you’ve ever seen in your entire life?”
My roommate had thrown his laptop right in front of me, an action that was usually reserved for 30 second videos of something stupid.
This time however, there was a headline. The title blurred together, revealing two innocent words standing side-by-side.
Equestria Online.
Funny how the greatest revelations of life came in its most mundane moments.
“It’s like, who in their right mind is gonna play this? They come out here with one of the best games of all time and now they’re wasting all that on My Little Pony? Christ, My Little Pony for fuck’s sake! My Little Pony!”
I had gotten that part the first time around.
“Who knows,” I said, shrugging, "Could be fun. You know there are some people who eat that kind of stuff up.”
Me. I’m the person who eats that kind of stuff up. I will sit down and choke to death eating that kind of stuff up.
“Yeah, uhh, maybe if you’re like five or something. I swear, Brian had that in his Netflix history and I don’t think I ever looked at him the same.”
A knot formed in my stomach.
“It’s Hofvarpnir Studios.” I tried not to make my voice sound too shaky, my heart rate jumping at every sentence. “They’ve revolutionized the industry once, they can do it again. Did you even read the article?”
“I already know it’s going to be garbage.”
Then so be it, I thought to myself, scrolling through the paragraphs.