Part 1: A Mother’s Last Wish
The doctor just stood there, pondering the question he was just asked. “What do I tell my sister?”
“Well, Leon, you need to tell her the truth, and soon,” he said flatly.
Leon was completely broken up. Unable to contain his tears anymore, he began to weep quietly to himself, still refusing to look into the room. As he sat there, he started to think on what to tell Windbreaker.
He stood up and faced the doctor, “Thank you for everything you’ve done, but I need to talk to my mother for a little while…” He wiped his tears and swallowed his emotions.
“Sure, but if anything happens, we will be right outside,” Dr. Umber said as he turned to the room. “Dr. Grey, I need to talk to you.”
As she left, Leon looked at her. She smiled, but her eyes showed extreme emotional pain. Over the years, she had become very close to him. Another part of the family, like the older sister he never had. So she felt the hurt just as much as he did. As she walked past him, she said, “Come along, Windbreaker. Your physical therapy is in a few minutes. I’ll take you over.” Windbreaker followed closely behind her.
Finally, he was alone with his mother. Leon’s heart was pounding, his eyes were stinging, and he found it difficult to breath. ‘The air is so thick…’ Every time he tried to speak to her, he choked up, and couldn’t say anything, so they just sat there for what seemed an eternity.
‘What should I say? Well, what can I even say? She’s dying, and she knows it. Do I tell her everything is all right? Do I tell her the truth? How…’
“Leon?” she said, breaking his inner conflict. “I need to tell you something…”
Leon swallowed hard, fighting back the emotions that tore at his insides like a wild manticore. Still, he was silent.
“I am dying…” Hearing her say it made him nearly vomit. “and I’ve know that for a long time n-“ She began to cough, and as she pulled her hoof away from her face, he saw it covered in blood. Leon jumped to her side and held her as she convulsed again. Being this close to her made him realize how much the illness had already taken out of her.
Her mane was turning grey and thinning like an old mare. She had become so inexplicably thin that her skeletal structure shown through her skin. Her eyes were weary, tired, and surrounded by purple bruising. He couldn’t tell if these were symptoms of the illness, or of all the medicine they were giving her.
‘By Celestia… What has happened to you…'
When she finally calmed down enough, she continued to speak, her voice far more strained than before.
“Since I found out, I took a long look back at my life. Reminiscing on things that I have done… and things that I haven’t,” she said, wheezing. “Sure, there are some things that I wish I could have done differently. I wish I could have saved your father, I wish I could have been a better mother to you and your sister.”
Finally, Leon found the strength to speak, “Mom… You couldn’t have been any better to Windbreaker and I. You provided us with a loving home, food on the table everyday, hah, you even hoof knitted our clothing to make sure that they fit perfectly!” He let his tears flow down his face as he smiled at the memories… When he found her fast asleep over her sewing machine, and having to carry her to her bed when she spent days making them new dress clothes.
“Ever since the day I was born, there was not a moment when I felt unloved, never I time I was truly unhappy, never a day I harbored any anger towards either you or dad. And-*sniff*- and you two always tried to be kind to me, even when I misbehaved. Yes, when dad died, it hurt… It still does… but I still had you.” He looked down at his mother. Her breathing had become more relaxed and peaceful. “And you helped me get past it. You stayed strong, even though I know it hurt you far more than it hurt me. And-and when Windbreaker was born, I remember you telling me that I had a baby sister. That it was my job to help you teach her right from wrong, to show her how to smile, and to protect her from the things that threatened her.”
His heart ached, his entire body felt as if it would fall away bit by bit until there was nothing left. He was finding it more and more difficult to speak.
‘No! No, I need to tell her everything I’m feeling. I don’t know if I will have another chance. Even now, I can feel her slipping away from me.’
He took another jagged breath, “I will always be there for her… and I know you will too. I know that even when you are gone, you will still be watching over us. You and dad will always be there, even if we can’t see you.” Leon stopped; unable to say the words he truly wanted to say.
Suddenly, Moondancer spoke up, “Leon, there is something I need you to do for me.”
“A-anything you need, mom.”
“Come closer.”
Leon leaned down to his mother, listening intently. She whispered in his ear, telling her young boy her last wish…