"Cotton, can you get a piece of paper and a pencil?"
"Sure...?" Looking back at Aqua, Cotton got up. On her way to the front desk, Cotton had previously wondered if Aqua once knew how to read and write. To be so fascinated by something she can't access by her lonesome. It must be hard on her, though it does force you to meet ponies. At the front desk she asked the stallion for paper and a pencil. With them on her back, she headed back to Aqua.
Cotton sat back down next to her. "So, not to sound mean or anything but, why do you want these?" She put the pencil and paper at Aqua's hooves. Aqua was looking down and she couldn't quite see her face.
Aqua stayed silent for a few seconds. "I wanted to try drawing again... Like I used to."
Cotton cringed. "O-oh... Sorry."
"Yeah, no you're fine... You were just curious."
"Still, I'm sorry."
Aqua looked up "I just said you're okay. Don't worry about it." Aqua wore a sad smile with her eyes open. It had been a few days since she last opened her eyes. Upon seeing Aqua's eyes, Cotton gasped. She could see such depth in said eyes. Sorrow, a longing for the past, hope, exhaustion and the fact that Aqua's eyes were a strange sparkly purple. Cotton had seen Aqua's eyes enough to know that her eyes were a faded grey. They reminded Cotton of the night sky around the Faced Moon.
Snapping out of her reverie, Cotton opened her mouth before closing it a second later. I-I'm pretty certain there isn't supposed to be purple where her tears are. I-I'll bring it up later. Still, that doesn't look normal... I'll bring it up with the physician tonight. "Alright, Aqua..."
Cotton looked up from the drawing filly and lazily scanned the room. It was quiet today. None of the fillies or colts was making a particularly loud racket. They all seemed to be sluggish compared to normal, actually. Cotton hummed to herself. There was that field trip yesterday. That might be the 'why.' Cotton didn't go with the rest of the orphanage. She stayed with Aqua. Thinking about it, did anypony notify Aqua to ask if she wanted to go? O-oh... they likely assumed I would. "Hey Aqua," Cotton cringed and looked down at Aqua.
The filly looked up to her. "Yeah?"
"I'm really sorry that I forgot to ask you if you wanted to go on the field trip yesterday. They went to a museum." Cotton said sheepishly.
"Wait, there was a field trip?" Aqua looked to the side. "Oh..."
"I'm really, really sorry."
"Aqua's ears slumped. "N-Nah... It's okay. I don't think I would've wanted to go... So it's fine." Cotton could tell from the body language alone that Aqua was disappointed.
"No, it's not okay. I'm supposed to be your attendant. I need to keep track of these things." She leaned over and gave the filly a strong hug, before whispering, "I'm sorry, but I'll try to be better from now on. I'm sorry." Aqua was frozen for a few seconds before eventually leaning into the hug.
They held like that for a long time.
Aqua broke the silence with a mumble into cotton's chest fluff. "...didn't quite catch that." Cotton broke away from the hug and held Aqua at hoof's length. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that, what did you say?"
The filly shied away from Cotton's attention. "I... I haven't been hugged like that in years... T-thanks..." Aqua sniffled. Cotton could see small tears, sparkling purple. Once again...
Cotton gave a sad smile. "You're welcome."
Behind Aqua, she spotted the paper on the floor.
The mare gave out a sad sigh.