CHAPTER 5
(Third Person)
Kyle laid on the hospital bed, unconscious due to a combo of alcohol, stress, and oxygen deprivation. He still had his clothes on, even his hat and jacket. The doctors had no time to remove them when he was rushed in by Applejack and Zephyr, as he was in critical condition then. There was a large purple ring around his neck, with a few cuts dotting it, apparently caused by the rope. Nopony was there, as nopony had been told of the accident yet. Applejack just sat beside the bed, her eyes red and bloodshot from crying. When she had arrived to visit Kyle, she hadn't said anything, but just stared at him for a few minutes, soaking in the severity of his injury, then broke down crying.
"Ah' don't know if Ya' can hear me, Kyle... But Ah' guess this 's as good a time as ever t' just come out n' say it..." He could hear her, but he couldn't respond, obviously. "Ah've had... Feelin's fer' Ya, fer' a while now... Ah' don't know where they came from, but Ah' know Ah' feel this way, and Ya' deserve t' know... Ah' know Yer' married, but Ah' jus' wanted t' get that off mah' chest... Ah'll jus' go now..."
She slowly got up, and trotted out of the room, letting out a heavy sigh. She felt a LOT better after having said that, even if he didn't hear her.
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(First Person)
"Being unconscious sucks..."
I was in a coma-like state, so I was aware of my surroundings, but couldn't interact with them. AJ was talking to me, So I decided I may as well listen.
"... Guess this 's as good a time as ever t' just come out n' say it... Ah've had... Feelin's fer' Ya, fer' a while now... Ah' know Yer' married, but Ah' jus' wanted t' get that off mah' chest... Ah'll jus' go now..."
It felt like my mind had exploded. Twice. Revelations like that always surprise me, and sometimes even blow my mind. This was one of those revelations that cause the latter to happen.
"AJ has feelings for me? When the hay did THAT happen? I mean, I know I'm a hard worker, and I've helped out her family a bit, but that couldn't be the reason. Nopony would fall for me just for THAT. Or... Would they? I mean, Fluttershy fell for me just because I was nice and she was a fan of mine. But that was just a fangirl like... Is AJ into rave music? Hm... I guess I have a bunch of time to think. I'm probably gonna be like this for a while..."
I heard the door squeak open, but nopony came in, as if they were hesitant. Then, Dashie walked in, and I felt my heart sink. She was probably going to be glad to see me like this.
She let out a light gasp, and it seemed very controlled. She had held back a much worse show of shock. "It's even worse than she said..." She sat down next to me, and ran her hoof along my neck, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm so sorry... I shouldn't have just cast you away like that... I was just so upset... I should have let you tell your side of the story... Please... Please forgive me..."
"I forgive you, Dashie... If only she could read my thoughts... I wanted to tell her so badly...
"I... I-I never w-wanted you t-to get hurt l-l-like this... W-Why did I do what I-I did... Th-This is all my f-fault... I-I-I'm the r-reason you're like this... I'm s-s-sorry... P-Please... J-J-Just w-wake up... PLEASE..." She rested her head on my chest and started sobbing uncontrollably. I felt her tears soak through my shirt and onto my skin. I could feel a tear roll down the side of my head, but I couldn't do anything about it. I was just a sleeping man, seemingly oblivious to the world. All I could do was lay there, listening to her cry, unable to do a thing about it. I just laid there, while the love of my life poured her sorrow and pain out.
"Please... Just please wake up... Please..." Her voice was just above a whisper.
I wished I could do something. I wished I could answer her pleas. I wished I could just wake up, and embrace her. But I couldn't. All I could do was lay there.
"What was I thinking? Why would I kill myself when I have this? I should have just given them time... Now look at me..." I felt even more worthless than before. But I didn't want to die... But what I wanted was much more tormenting. I wanted Dashie, but I couldn't have her.
"I guess I deserve this... I wish I could just tell her how much I love her... I wish I could just say something... Oh Goddesses, what have I done? This is all my fault... I'm so sorry Dashie... I caused all of this..."
Then my ring began to glow. I felt a new strength flowing through me, something I hadn't felt for an entire year. Something very important to me. Something absolutely wonderful.
"Love..."
My entire body was glowing with a rainbow colored aura. My eyes popped open, and I saw the hospital room, and an astonished Dashie staring at me. I rolled off of the bed, and turned to face her. The aura faded away, and I felt a million times better. I looked in the mirror, and I looked like I felt otherwise.
"Kyle...?" I looked back at Dashie, and she had tears in her eyes.
"Dashie..." I fell to my knees in front of her, pulling her into a deep, loving embrace. We both cried on each other's shoulders, never wanting the moment to end.
I'd never felt happier in my entire life until that day.