//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: I Think I'll Have A Heart Attack // by flashsentryxtwi //------------------------------// Flash narrates I couldn't bear it. I wanted to die. What was the point of living when I was abandoned by my parents because I was...abnormal? I could jump. I was on the school rooftop. I could jump easily. And die. Yeah, I'd do that. I took a deep breath and gulped as I looked down. I would definitely die. Do it Flash. It isn't that hard. You could jump easily. Just a jump. You jump all the time. Remember when you took such big jumps at the Fall Formal to get to the top of the stairs to get to ...Twilight! Wait! Maybe she might help me? No, no one wants to help an abnormal jerk. I wiped my tears that were still streaming down my face and I took a shaky breath. That's when I heard footsteps. They were light. Very ...I know it's weird to say...graceful. Twilight. Yeah, I know what her footsteps sound like . I mean, her shoes don't- Gah, no one's interested in the sound her shoes make... I didn't want her to see me in such a vulnerable state. I said I'd always be by her side when she was crying. What was I doing now? Waiting for her to console me? Give me a hug? See that I'm not strong? That I'm pregnable? That I'd never be able to protect her? I heard the footsteps drawing nearer until the door flung open. "Go away," I said in a rough voice. No reply. She drew nearer. "Twilight, I'm not in the mood-" "Of crying? You are." I stopped. I didn't want to, but I began to shiver. Uncontrallably. "Flash Sentry?" "Twilight Sparkle." She giggled and then cleared her throat because she didn't mean to giggle. I still didn't face her. "They want you back, you know. King Solaris cried after you went." "Did I not cry? You don't know what it feels like to be labeled as 'abnormal' !" "I could try to understand," she said. Her voice was low and soft. "You don't need to. I'm fine on my own. Besides, you'd become 'abnormal' too," I said, tears blurring my vision once more. "YOU AREN'T ABNORMAL!" she yelled. I'd never heard her screaming before. I flinched. "Where's that confident Flash Sentry that-" "I'm not confident, I just praised myself to cover up for the fact that I thought I was an orphan. It would've been better if I was an orphan! But I'm ABNORMAL!" I screamed in agony. "YOU'RE NOT!" "I AM!" "NOT!" "What if I am? You should stay away, it's probably some kind of a fatal disease. Well, good riddance to old rubbish! I'll die!" I yelled. "Y-you won't...die." Her voice cracked. Tears glistened in Twilight's eyes as she struggled to hold back her emotions. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Please, Flash... don't say that. You're not... you're not alone. You're not abnormal. You're... unique. Special." I turned slightly, unable to face her directly. "Unique? Special? That's just... that's just words." "They're not just words. They're truths," she said softly, her voice choked with emotion. I shook my head, feeling the weight of despair crushing me. "It doesn't matter. I'll always be different. Always alone." "No, you won't. You have... you have friends who care about you," Twilight said, tears now streaming down her cheeks. Her attempts to remain composed faltered in the face of my pain. I hesitated, her tears piercing through my anguish. "I don't deserve friends. I'm a freak." "Stop saying that! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT? JUST LOOK AT YOU! You're amazing! P-Please stop thinking that way," she pleaded, her voice breaking. "I care about you, Flash. We all do. Please... don't shut us out." I clenched my fists, my own tears blurring my vision. "You shouldn't waste your tears on me. I'm not worth it." "But you are," she insisted, her voice filled with raw emotion. "You are worth it." Her vulnerability and genuine concern chipped away at my resolve. Slowly, I turned to face her, seeing the anguish etched on her face, tears cascading down like a waterfall. Twilight collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably, her words interspersed with broken gasps for air. "Please don't say anything of the sort." I felt a pang of guilt and a flicker of warmth in my heart at the sight of her anguish. "Twilight, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." She looked up, her teary eyes meeting mine, filled with an intensity of emotion. "Just..." she couldn't continue. Her vulnerability broke through my walls and I felt a surge of emotions I couldn't contain any longer. With a choked sob, I collapsed into her embrace, letting out all the pain, frustration and fear that had been consuming me. Twilight held me tightly. Twilight's trembling hand reached up to wipe away my tears, her touch gentle and caring. "Let's go somewhere quiet, just you and me. We can talk, or not talk, whatever you need." "Thank you. For being here," I whispered. She smiled weakly. "You were here for me weren't you?" Drawing her nearer, I clung to her as if she were my lifeline. And she was.