//------------------------------// // Incident I: The Coffee Maker // Story: Echoing // by Aynine //------------------------------// Echoing By: Aynine   Incident I: The Coffee Maker                   She changed back then. I don't know what, or how, but she became somepony else... She was still the same mare I loved, but at the same time... she was somepony I no longer knew. One day, something within her started to unravel, and slowly, bit by bit, what was revealed was a demon that I never thought could exist. And it consumed her.   ***                   I remember the first time she snapped at me, the first sign of change. Despite our careers and status as celebrities, our home life was quiet. We always had a harmony between us, even with our different taste in music, and I can't remember the last time we had a serious fight. Well, until all of this happened, that is. We loved each other very much and life was perfect. But somehow, it seemed as if what twisted everything up made it all seem surreal.                   Winter had begun and both of us had the day off. No plans. Just sleep in and relax at home. The late morning light was somewhat welcome as it hit our eyes. I rolled over and gave her a kiss before swimming out of the sheets and blankets of the bed. After getting ready for the day, I sat down and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee while reading the newspaper. She went to grab a cup after me and that was when the change started.                   "Did you break the coffee maker?" she asked.                   Without taking my eyes off the newspaper I replied, "No. Did it die again?" I wasn't prepared for what came next.                   I remember my eyes faintly absorbing an article about a fancy new restaurant opening when the print smashed into my face. Hard. I toppled backwards in my chair, blinded by pain, before I knew what hit me. An angry flurry of words came my way as tears welled in my eyes and blood ran out of my nose. I rolled over and picked myself up off of the floor, noticing shards of glass around me. She had thrown the coffee pot at me.                   "You need to get off your lazy flank and get another one! I don't work so you can sit at home. You could at least make yourself useful and make sure our coffee maker works!"                   I was stunned, or would've been had I not still been dazed by the glass colliding with my face. I held a trembling hoof to it and moaned. "What the hay was that for? It's not my fault the coffee maker broke. We use it every day!" I yelled back, my body in shock.                   There was a brief moment where we glared at each other, but whatever contempt she just held for me melted in an instant as she gasped, her hooves clasping over her mouth as horror took hold of her features. She grabbed a towel and ran over to me. There was a moment as she got close where I flinched and pulled away, but she slowly brought the towel up to my nose, gently dabbing away the blood.                   "I'm so sorry! I don't know what got into me. I'm really sorry. I just... I'm sorry. I'll clean this mess up and buy a new coffee maker."                   "I-Is everything alright?" I shakily asked. "Are you stressed about work?"                   "I... yes," she replied, moving to grab another towel and the broom. "It's been so... crazy lately."                   I didn't know how to respond to her outburst, so I let it go. "While you clean this up, I'll go buy a new coffee maker," I said, my body wanting to get away from that situation.                   "Alright," she said, not looking at me. I grabbed some things before heading out the door, but I stopped to cast a worried glance at her. She had never acted like that before. Thankfully, the pain in my face had begun to subside and I stepped outside the door.                   "What was that all about?" I muttered to myself after the door to our apartment closed. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have ever seen something like that happening. I walked to the store, my worry and trembling fading with each step I took. Even after the shock had passed, there was a doubt beginning to well within me. I mulled over the events as best I could, finally asking myself, Did I do something wrong? Was it my fault?                   I shook away the feelings, assuring myself that it wasn't my fault and she simply had a bizarre reaction from stress. Nonetheless, I hung my head in thought as I walked to the nearest store, careful not to draw the attention of any fans I might have on the streets. Fall had settled in now, and I was thankful it had not yet become cold outside; I'd left any warmer articles at home.                   Stepping into the store, I quickly located the nearest coffee maker, grabbing it and flipping it around to scan all of its features. This will do, I thought. As I turned to head for checkout, I hesitated. She won't be mad if I get this one, right? I shook my head again. Ridiculous. What would she be mad for? It was just a one time occurrence.                   As I purchased the coffee maker and made the trek home, a winding breeze bristled my fur. I quickened my pace to return home. With a sigh, I opened the door and walked inside, setting the new coffee maker in the kitchen. She had cleaned up the mess. I could hear music playing in one of the other rooms. She must be trying to calm down, I thought. I opened the door to her music room only to have my ears filled with the sounds of her favorite artist. I waited until the particular song finished before getting her attention.                   "Hey," I started weakly. "I'm back from the store." She turned and beamed to me.                   "I cleaned up the mess. I'm sorry about... earlier."                   I felt better hearing her apology, and the softness in her voice made me finally cast away all of my earlier worries. I stepped closer to her and hugged her. "I love you."                   "I love you, too."