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// Non-Contest Entry Part 2, January 2023 
// Story: Eileen's Exhilarating Collection of Extremely Short Fiction 
// by EileenSaysHi 
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Worthwhile, Part 2



"Do people ever look at you," Wallflower mused, "and see the monster?"

"Not really, no," Twilight replied, wincing.

"Do you ever wish they would?"

Twilight blinked. "What?"

"No one knows the truth about what happened, except you and your friends. No one knows what I did." Wallflower sighed. "There's a part of me that wishes they all knew. That they would look at me, and hate me."

"Wallflower..."

"I know. It's a terrible way to think about myself."

"No, I get it."

Wallflower startled. "You do?"

Twilight nodded. "I hated myself, after Midnight. I couldn't believe people weren't scared of me, or angry at me. I know Cinch pushed me to do it... but I'm the reason it was possible. And knowing that, I felt like I wanted to be judged."

Wallflower nodded back. "I guess we have another reason to thank Sunset."

"Hmm?"

"She depleted the school's hate reserves." Wallflower giggled. "They didn't have anything left for us."

Twilight processed the remark, then found herself giggling too. They looked at each other, and fell into quiet, mildly ashamed laughter.

After some time, Twilight took a breath.

"It does pass, you know. Not quite... permanently. But enough that there's a day when you know that that's not you. Not anymore, and never again."

"I hope so."