//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Sunset on a Foggy Day // Story: Unseen, Unheard // by Nocturnal Reverie //------------------------------// Foggy Day awoke to silence. Eyes blinking, she pulled in a deep breath. Her eyes ticked to the clock: 9:18 She let the breath out slowly. . . She needed to get up. It was almost time to go. The mare pulled on her legs, breaking them free from their temporary paralysis. Sheets shifting, she brought them to the floor, rolling out of bed. For a moment, she nearly forgot what she needed to do before she turned and approached the mirror. She cringed at her reflection, eyes tired and red, small bags hanging underneath them. Her mane was a mess, and overdue for a good cut. It’d probably help, considering her possible new job. She shook off the thought, levitating up her brush and yanking it through her mane, pulling apart knots so harshly it brought a tear or two to her eyes. ‘At least I can still feel pain,’ she thought ruefully. ‘I know all about that.’ She put her brush back down a bit too harshly, flinching at the slam she caused. She forced her shoulders to relax with a push of breath, her weary eyes finding her reflection again before they closed. She stayed in the darkness for a few moments, finally breaking her own silence with: “Staying here isn’t doing anything productive.” Foggy cracked her eyes open again, swearing for a moment that she lost color in her coat before the teal brightened back to normal. Taking it as an adjustment of her eyes, her gaze panned to her Bit purse. Without even thinking, she levitated it over, and strapped it to her fetlock. Hooves almost dragging, she maneuvered around the half-unpacked boxes, stepping to the door. She glanced down at the mail in the basket under the slat, raising an eyebrow as she spotted the singular letter within, levitating it up and opening it. Her magic flicked the tri-folded letter open, eyes scanning across the affirmative message she was hoping to receive. She felt a pang in her heart, unable to feel excitement over the beginnings of a new chapter in her life. Sighing through her nose, she let her eyes close, placing the letter on the small table by the entrance. She stared at it a bit longer, the chime of her little clock striking nine-thirty finally snapping her out of her stupor. Yet another sigh heaved from her chest, leaving her feeling even heavier than before. Wincing, she yanked open her door, slipping outside and slamming it shut, locking it tight. The hustle and bustle of the city around her—a constant she had grown to enjoy—grated on her every last nerve. As she walked, her unintentionally-eavesdropping ear picked up the briefest pieces of passing conversations, the patchwork narrative of nonsensical proportions only making her feel worse with every word that passed. “I’d never heard of such a thing before…” “…perhaps it’s all for the best…” “—but did you see the way that dress fit her?!” “…and they were roommates!” “But I know for a fact they’ll be right back where they started.” She blew a frustrated breath, doing her best to return with as normal a look of neutrality as she could when ponies greeted her left and right, no more than a mere ‘hello’ from strangers. She passed couples, groups. Friends. An extra weight dragged down her heart, each unfamiliar face only serving to remind her of how alone she was. How alone she was clearly destined to be. She pulled on her perfected small smile as she finally came to her usual flower stall, the mint-colored earth pony greeting her with her usual smile. “Hiya, Foggy!” she smiled brightly. “Hello, Clover,” the unicorn returned. “Your usual order?” “Yes, please, thank you.” “Sure!” Clover chirped, taking the pre-chosen flowers from their vase and moving back over to the counter. “I saved the best just for you.” “Oh, you didn’t have to do that,” Foggy’s smile deepened, her eyes squinting a bit as she gave the florist what was owed. “I wanted to,” Clover insisted. “It’s the only thing you order, so I’m going to give you the best.” The unicorn’s smile gained a bit of warmth. “Well, I appreciate it.” Clover nodded. “See you next week?” she asked. “Of course,” Foggy smiled, traipsing away from the flower kiosk and admiring the roses Clover had given her. Both were in full bloom, their supple petalheads large and proud as they sported flawless curves and colors. One was that of the purest white, while the other held a crimson hue so dark it burned black at the edges of each petal. She gave the flowers a soft smile, pulling in a deep draw, their scent every bit as lovely as their beauty. Her heart skipped a beat. They were perfect, as usual. Beating back the tears threatening to choke her once again, she continued onward, the voices of the surrounding sea of ponies mixing and blurring together in a mess of noise as her mind checked out of reality. Finally, she arrived at her destination, her legs moving on autopilot as she pushed open the creaky cast-iron gate. Just as the latch clanged back into place, the bells within the tower sang their announcement of ten o’clock. She paused at the threshold, eyes slipping closed and heart skipping a beat as she basked in their chimes, unable to keep the memories from spilling forth like they did every time. She could still feel the fabric against her fur, the warmth of the sun heating her to uncomfortable levels. The bells ended, and she opened her eyes to find tears blurring her vision, her breath catching as she desperately held back a wave of sobs, sorrow old and new threatening to suffocate her. She rubbed a fetlock into her eyes, almost angrily wiping the tears away. As best she could, she composed herself, pulling on a small smile as she walked around the side of the building, finding the subject of her visit immediately across the field. Foggy Day stepped around the other still figures, greeting her visitee with a warm smile. “Hey, there,” she cooed, eyes flicking to the two dead stalks in the waiting vase. Humming to herself, she offered, “Let me replace those for you.” She levitated the brown stems out, tossing them aside and replacing them with the two roses she held in her magic, briefly twisting and adjusting them so they’d show off the best parts of themselves. A question rose from her subconscious, and her eyes flicked to her subject. “I’m doing okay. I…I’d be lying if I said I don’t miss her.” Her smile gained moisture as tears welled in her eyes. “But…I’m adjusting, so…” She could feel the eyes boring a hole straight through her, knowing she was lying. Trying to distract both herself and her visitee, she chirped, “I’m about to start a new job.” Her smile grew. “That should, uh…keep me busy for a…for a long time…” She swallowed the rising lump in her throat, offering a smile of peace, a total opposite to the anguish she held in her eyes. Her smile faltered. “No. No, I can’t. I told you, she’s gone, okay? I can’t…just…be…” Her words failed, heart straining at the seams. She pulled in a shallow breath, locking eyes with her subject. “She has a new life,” Foggy insisted. “She shouldn’t have to stay stuck in the past with me.” She could feel the deadpan look, something in her heart nudging her simultaneously toward and away from the one she was visiting. “I know,” she sank. “Practice what I preach. Don’t chastise me, I’m your—“ She bit her tongue, eyes welling with tears. “I just…can’t, okay? It’d be best if she just forgot about me. Besides, with my new job, I’ll be too busy to…even think about…visiting…” Foggy Day shook her head. “Look, it’s just not appropriate, okay? I was her shadow, nothing more. It was my job to take care of her, and…raise her, and…teach her…But-but that’s Rainbow’s job now, and she’ll do amazingly. I don’t…want to get in the way of their lives, and…” She rubbed the water from her cheeks. “And…I can’t…can’t abandon you. I wouldn’t dream of letting you go through what I had to. Even…e-even if it means I stay here forever, okay?” Her pulse roared in her ears, memories threatening to take over yet again. She beat them back as best she could, but a few flashes too strong for her to block flew unwanted across her eyes. Shouting. Angry words that had faded over time. Cold night. Alone, curled up on the concrete steps of a huge building, staring out at a large courtyard fenced in with iron spokes, the echoes of a deep voice speaking a promise that was never meant to be kept. She—as well as many others—would wind up calling that building home for far too many years. Fear. Half-baked stability. Fear. Rocky relationships. Fear. Peace. Love. Joy. Hurt. Emptiness. Foggy shook her head with a shout, clapping her hooves to her head. Taking in several heaving breaths, she brought herself back to the present, once again rubbing away the annoyingly persistent tears that wanted to fall. She glanced back up at her visitee, sniffling. “I’m sorry…I didn’t mean to scare you.”  The unicorn cleared her throat, trying to fight her watery eyes. She smiled, “My place is here…with you. I can’t…bring myself to leave you, okay?” All her trying, all her fighting, proved to be in vain as her mask slipped and her voice dissolved, breaking apart and melting as her tears poured forth once again. She found herself no longer able to fight as her chest convulsed with barely-held-back sobs. “And I wanted to let you know…with my new job…I might have to miss a few visits, but…I’ll always come back, okay? I promise. I’m not…I’m not going anywhere, okay, sweetheart?” Foggy’s face fell as a sob violently escaped her chest. “I love you so much!” Her legs no longer able to support her, she sank to her elbows, burying her face in her fetlocks. The mare stayed there through the toll of eleven, not caring about how much time passed as she wept, alone. Watching her pour out her heart for the millionth time, an angel of stone smiled down peacefully at her, wings spread and forelegs open to welcome an embrace. It stood upright upon a block of concrete, a carved brass plaque at its feet reading: Infant colt of Augite Wisp and Foggy Day Born asleep Aprilius 9th, 1082 C. You knew how to fly before you could learn how to run.