//------------------------------//
// Day One: Cheerilee 
// Story: Five Days 
// by Sir Hat 
//------------------------------//

	I took a deep breath, sifting through my drafts. Everything was in order for my departure. Loose ends tied up, people notified, money distributed. I was free.

I set the notes down, looking around my office. The room was stripped of my possessions, bare save a desk and an empty bookshelf. It felt alien, sitting in my own home with this loss of personality. My books had all been donated, my paintings sold and the money put away for my last connection to this land.

A soft knock came from my front door. I stood hazily and walked down to meet whoever it was. The steps creaked underfoot, adding to the sense of loneliness that now permeated my home.

I pulled the door open, meeting the local teacher at the door. "Able...I came as soon as I heard." Cheerilee looked up at me, her eyes slightly glassy. "May I?"

I held the door for her, letting her trot in. "I uh...thanks for coming. I don't really know how I'd do this myself."

Cheerilee walked in and hugged my waist. "Able...it's okay...."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "I know...I know...I'm just worried about her is all."

Cheerilee let go and took a step back. "You haven't told her yet...have you?"

I frowned hard and looked to my kitchen. "No." I walked into the kitchen and found a seat.

"She's a growing filly...she deserves to know." Cheerilee stated warmly, joining me in the kitchen and taking the seat across from me.

I licked my lips. "She's still got her parents, that's the important thing."

Cheerilee shook her head hard. "Able...you've been there for her more than her parents ever where. You really think she'll just forget about you."

"I was hoping." Things grew quiet between us. Both of us trying to dodge the elephant in the room. "Five days." I stated dryly. "I've got five days to wrap this up."

Cheerilee swallowed hard and look me over. "Able...there has to be something they can do."

I shook my head softly. "They said they could give me a month, maybe two, but I'd be bound to a hospital bed." I tapped my fingers on the oak dining table. "Cheerilee...I don't want to die like that."

Things grew quiet once again.

It felt like an hour passed before she spoke. "What are you going to do?"

"About what?"

"Don't, about what, me! About Silver Spoon...." Cheerilee leaned over the table. "Able...you're like her father.... She talks about you in class...she stood up to Diamond Tiara, ever since you got here...she's been amazing!"

"She'll keep being amazing!"

"Able...." Cheerilee stared me down. "She needs you...."

"Like you said...she's a growing filly...she'll get over it!"

"Able...you have to talk to her." Cheerilee demanded, softly staring me down from across the table. "Please...if not for me, then for her."

I ran my hand over my face. "Maybe...I'll think about it."

Cheerilee smiled grimly for a moment before returning to her dour expression. "You know...it's okay to be scared."

"I'm not scared. I had a long time before this to be scared...I made my peace a while ago."

"Able...I don't mean about yourself...."

I swallowed hard, rubbing my lip with the meat of my thumb. "I uh...yeah...." I bit a patch of dead skin on my lip. "I worry about her every day...."

Cheerilee stood up and walked over to me. She threw her foreleg around my waist and nuzzled my chest. "Able...you've done so much for her...she deserves to know."

I could feel my eyes start to tear up. "I know...god damn it I know...but how the hell am I supposed to tell her!? Oh, sorry, I've gotta go die now! How fair is that!? What the hell am I supposed to say to her!?"

Cheerilee tightened her grip. "Able...you'll figure it out. I know you will...but you need to talk to her before you go...just remember that."

I gave in and hugged her back. "I'm scared...I don't know what's gonna happen...she might hate me...she might run away-- I mean...she's been trying to see me for the last week! Every time I have to lie to her, say I'm busy. I don't know what I can say that will make this right."

"Able...you'll figure it out. Just give it time...."

"Cheerilee I don't have time!" I snapped back, pushing her back a step. "I don't have time...this is it...I'm either going to do it...or break that filly's heart. And- I just...I don't know if I can do it."

Cheerilee frowned hard. "Able...you will." She turned towards my door. "I'll leave you alone...give you time to think."

"Wait...wait." I stood up in a rush, walking over and taking a note from my kitchen counter. "Here...this way I don't have to pay postage."

"Cheerilee let out a shaky laugh. "Cheapskate...." Things grew quiet once again. "...Goodbye Able...."

I leaned down and hugged her tight. "Goodbye Cheerilee...and thanks for everything."


)4(


Cheerilee, words can't express how thankful I am. When I arrived I was nothing. I came here hoping I could eke out an existence in the background, quiet, just passing through this land.

They used me like an animal, trying to learn what they could about humanity, and finally when I was spit out into this world, there you were. You offered me a job, a place to stay, a chance at life.

I can never pay this back, but I have to try right? I mean, without you I'd already be dead, so this only makes sense.


Enclosed in this envelope is a key to a safety deposit box. Inside is fifty thousand bits in unmarked bonds given to me by the nation of Canada and Royal Equestria. I'll leave it up to you where it should go, but I'm counting on you to do the right thing with it.

-Able Hendricks