> Numbered Days > by TheWingman > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Need a shoulder > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are many reasons why people around Canterlot liked to take hikes into the neighboring woods. Whether it was the clean and fresh air, The gorgeous landscape, or the tranquil atmosphere, the opportunity to be amongst nature was well worth the trip. Among the more awe inspiring sites, was the top of the waterfall near Mt. Filmore. At that height, one could see the entire city as well as the surrounding area, prime location for a great photo with a loved one. For others, it was simply a place where they could escape their troubles…in one way or another. For one Aaron Hart however, it was a place he hoped to find a more permanent resolution to his latest strings of stress. Ever since he was a kid, Aaron enjoyed hanging out with his father at that particular spot. Every time they went up there, they would just sit and talk about their troubles and life in general. It was perfect way to bond, unfettered by the stresses of suburbia down below. There were even times when Aaron would make solo trips to clear his mind of anything that annoyed him on the homefront, school, or for the sake of enjoying some fresh air. Today however, he simply wanted to be alone and instead of letting go of the stresses that plagued his mind, he wanted to drown himself in them. No one, save for himself and his family knew of the events that led up to the cause of his depression. It all began three months ago when Aaron fainted after an episode of vomiting blood while camping at Lake Everfree. Alarmed, his parents rushed him to the ER, a stay that quickly lasted for two weeks before getting a diagnosis. When they did get the news, both Aaron and his parents hearts sank simultaneously, like a boulder crashing through the floor. He couldn’t remember the whole spiel the doctor gave, but one part remained burned into his memory. “Mr and Mrs. Hart, I assure that we ran numerous tests on your son but the disease has spread too far for any viable treatment to be possible. If we were able to detect it early on, we could’ve stopped it before it metastasized. I’m so sorry but there’s nothing else we could do for him. From what the scans say, he has about six months left. We know he’ll be in a lot of pain from this so I’ll write up a prescription for something that’ll take the edge off. It’s the least we can do to make it easier for him. Otherwise, I’d make the most of what time he has left.” In the days that followed, Aaron tried to remain strong despite his bleak situation. In spite of the pain, he continued to carry on, hoping it’d take his mind off the fact that his life was being cut short. Sadly, while he was able to deal with the perpetual pain his body was in, another brand of pain was began to claw away at his mind. As his time grew shorter and shorter, he noticed his parents and little brother, Darrel, tearing up whenever he was near. Though they tried to hide the fact that they’d already mourning him, Aaron quickly caught on. It got to the point where they didn’t even try to hide their grief and it quickly began to wear him down. The thing about when someone you love gets a terminal diagnosis, staying strong for said person is a must as emotional support is key to helping said person through until the end. As such, such continued displays of sadness could have dire consequences. “Why… why did it have to be me?” A teary-eyed Aaron muttered as he sat on the bench near the top of the waterfall. The calming ambiance of the cascading water did nothing to calm his mind, wrapped in visions of another scene of his parents crying before him. Each and every time he recalled that memory his spirit, along with his will, continued to whittle down. During yesterday’s lunch with his folks, he came back from a bathroom break to find his parents and his brother in a collective heartbroken cry. Seeing the both of them, especially his normally stoic father crying like that had broke Aaron and made him feel worse than before. If even his family couldn’t be strong for him, then he has no support… no hope at all. Aaron couldn’t take it anymore and decided to end the whole thing during his usual hikes. Taking a few more moments of contemplation, he once again looked back on the good times he had with his family before getting up from the bench and walking to the end of the waterfall. “I’m so sorry,” Aaron tearfully muttered. “ I...I just can’t take it anymore.” Looking down towards the bottom of the falls, his heart began to race exponentially as his fear of heights began to kick in. Feeling queasy in his stomach, he had to mentally shake those feelings from his mind so he could finally end all his anguish. “It’s okay Aaron… you can do this. A few moments of fear in exchange for eternal bliss sounds fair, doesn’t it?” With one last gulp of fresh air and a recollection of a pleasant memory to carry him to the end, he prepared to take the fatal step forward. Just as he was about to move his leg, he was interrupted by a feminine voice from behind him. “Oh, hey, Aaron! What on earth are you doing out here by yourself?” If the tone and inquisitive nature of the voice offered enough clues, those that guessed Twilight Sparkle would’ve been right on the nose. Her mere presence alone was enough to brighten up even downbeat atmosphere. He’ll never forget the day she tutored him for a test he had worries about. It was the 10th of december last year and his biology class was having an ‘end of the semester’ test. Since it counted towards a good chunk of his grade for that period, he was worried because he was struggling with that subject. With nowhere else to turn to, Aaron asked one his friends Rarity for help. Though she herself couldn’t help him, she contacted a friend of hers that would. With his worry tempered to an extent, he stayed after school in the study hall, waiting for his mutual friend to show. Later that day, Aaron sat in the library with his book in front of him, examining his study guide. As he looked through the paper and read the book, his frustration grew as he failed to understand the concept of genetics. “Damn it all! I’ll never understand any of this!” He muttered as his head began to pound from the strain of trying to process the material. “Where the heck is this person?” “Um, hello? Are you Aaron Hart?” Aaron turned around to see a purple skinned girl with glasses standing a distance from him. She was wearing a sky-blue sweater with a mini-skirt under a purple vest and a pair of jeans. Her tri-colored hair was in a bun with small stripes left hanging down either side of her face. The way she carried herself could be described as bookish, curious, and… oddly charming. “Ummmm, are you okay, sir?” Still caught off guard at how cute she looked, Aaron worked up enough courage to introduce himself. “Oh sorry, my mind was elsewhere. I’m Aaron Hart.” Aaron said while holding out his hand for a handshake which she accepts. “Hi Aaron, I’m Twilight Sparkle. It’s so nice to meet a friend of rarity’s.” As their handshake ends, Twilight noticed Aaron was staring down at the floor, looking nervous and blushing heavily. “Are you alright?” Twilight asked, puzzled at how Aaron is acting around her especially since she just met him. “Well, to be quite honest, I never expected you to be this… cute.” Aaron’s answer caught Twilight off guard. Never once during her studies at Crystal Prep or Canterlot High did any of the males compliment her in such a way. This was the first time that someone referred to her as ‘cute’. To say that it made her blush was an understatement. “W-what?! Are you joking?” Twilight stuttered “I would never joke about how nice a girl looks.” From Aaron’s honesty, Twilight’s heart started to beat faster than a race horse. For the first time, whether or not it was intentional, a boy had hit on her yet she was a nerd by high school standards. “Oh wow, I can’t believe someone’s hitting on me.” Regaining her composure, Twilight straightened her posture and took a seat next to Aaron, her cheeks still blushing. “Well, It wasn’t my intention but I always learned to go with the flow.” With his words, Twilight let out a small chuckle. “But, I do already like your personality; It’s, how should I put this… charming.” “Okay, now you’re just acting like a flirt.” “Perhaps. But, Let’s get back to the topic at hand.” Aaron said as he turns back to his biology book. “Rarity said that you’ll help me with studying for Mr. Discord’s biology test this friday and I’m having a hard time trying to understand the concept of genetics.” “Oh, that’s an easy subject once you understand its basic principles and concepts.” Twilight said as she pulls out a notebook and a sharpened pencil. “Here, I can tutor you while you can take notes as we go along, okay?” Elated that he has a chance to pass the test and his confidence restored, Aaron nodded as they began to read through the course material. With every spoken by Twilight and every pencil scribble on the notebook, Aaron started to understand the subject material more. The study session lasted for a little more than an hour and a half before they got done. “... and that is how genetic inheritance, the passage of traits from both the male and female to their offspring works. It’s truly a fascinating thing to study.” Twilight said as she puts her pencil back in her bag. “I’d say it is.” Aaron replied with a grateful smile. “Thank you for helping me out, Twilight.” “Anytime, be sure to read those notes and call me if you have any questions.” Just as she said those words, Twilight handed Aaron a piece of paper with her phone number on it. His heart was beating so quickly, for him, it almost felt as if time had slowed down to a crawl. A cute girl had given him her number, a dream come true for him. In that moment, Aaron knew she was a keeper, someone he wanted to spend a lot of time with. Just as Twilight laid a hand on the library door, Aaron worked up the courage to speak his mind. “Hey Twilight, I’ve been thinking.” His words caused Twilight Sparkle to turn to him with a puzzled look. “What is it, Aaron?” She asked nervously as Aaron walked towards her with his backpack in tow. “Since you helped me out, I believe I should repay the favor. Do you wanna go see the new Blade Runner tomorrow?” Twilight’s eyes shot open so wide that one would say it looked like something out of a cartoon, pure excitement. To Aaron’s surprise, Twilight Sparkle was a fan of science fiction, something he never expected. “R-Really?!” Twilight shouted in excitement. “I’ve been wanting to go see that but I never found the time to!” “Well, I’ll take you there and maybe we could have a light lunch together.” “Heh, are you suggesting that it’s a date?” “Perhaps. I can’t help but really like you though. More to the point, I just want to repay you somehow.” “Well, okay then. Just text me the showtime and come pick me up, okay?” “Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Likewise, Aaron.” As Twilight Sparkle walked out, Aaron was left feeling good on two fronts: Some girl helped him study for an upcoming test and she accepted his offer of a movie date. He wondered why no guy wanted to go out with her. She looked beautiful and cute in a dorky sort of way. His head felt lightheaded from how fast his heart fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. As he drove home, the thought of dating a girl like Twilight Sparkle continued to swim around his mind The next day, Aaron and Twilight, after having a light lunch, went and saw the movie they wanted. With each and every scene, they were left surprised and amazed at the beautiful cinematography and the story that came with it. When the movie was over, they exited the theater with the afternoon sun beaming its light down upon them. “Wow, that… was pretty amazing.” Twilight said with a pleased tone. “Yeah, It does feel like a worthy sequel to the original.” Aaron replied as they got closer to his car. However, Twilight doesn’t go to the passenger’s side right away. She just looked at him with a face of longing. “Aaron, thank you for this. I just got to ask: Is this just a one time thing? Are we going to be, well… a couple after this? I just wanna know because you’re the only guy that showed any interest in me.” Looking down on the ground and bracing for disappointment, Twilight Sparkle was caught off guard by a hug from Aaron, dispelling any doubt as to whether they’ll be together or not. “Does this count as a yes?” Aaron whispered, which was met with a quick smooch on his cheek from his now confirmed girlfriend, making him blush with love. “I’ll take it as such.” Twilight agreed. With the end of the embrace, Aaron drove Twilight home and anxiously waited to meet up with her again. Throughout the winter break, Aaron and Twilight’s relationship grew and prospered to the delight of their mutual friends. For them, they were meant to be together and it was a stroke of luck that they found each other. However, with Aaron’s terminal diagnosis, he became increasingly aloof and began to cautiously distance himself from the one he loved. He couldn’t bear to deliver her the news due to the risk of breaking her heart, something he wanted to avoid dearly but forcing him to commit another grievous sin: lie to her. “Why are you standing so close to the cliff?!” Twilight Sparkle inquired, seeing the troubled Aaron so close to the cliff’s edge. “That’s reeeeaaalllyy dangerous you know. Aaron said not even the faintest of whispers. Tears flowed down his eyes as one of his closest friends from school caught him attempting suicide. He couldn't bear to look her in the eyes as in that moment, he felt a great sense of shame for what he was doing. “Aaron, why are you so upset? Are you alright?” Again, Aaron never replied, he just stood there in silence. As Twilight got closer, she got a better look at her boyfriend. His face spelled extreme sadness, sorrow, and pain. Tears were flowing steadily from his tightly shut eyes. As Twilight watched one of her friends silently cry, she knew she had to do something to help lift his spirits. More importantly, she wanted to know what was troubling him. With a sigh and a worried expression, she softly put a hand on one of Aaron's shoulders, causing him to faintly quake from the sensation. “Aaron, I know you're upset. But, I'm here for you if you need anything. You can talk to me about anything.” Twilight's words caused something inside of Aaron to stir, pulling him back from his desire to end his life. Like a rush of water from a broken dam, a wave of regret, shame, and sadness washed over his conscious as his flow of tears intensified. Finally, with someone to talk to, Aaron put his hand over Twilight's and hung his head low. “Twilight,” Aaron started with a whimper. “ There's something I have to tell you. Let's sit down first.” Confused and concerned about her friend, Twilight Sparkle agreed and sat with Aaron on the nearby bench. Still, she wondered why her friend was apparently in such pain. Seeing the tears flow down from his bloodshot eyes made her feel a tinge of what he felt but not to the point of shedding tears of her own. As she was about to ask her question, Aaron put up one finger, prompting her to listen. “Twilight… I'm sorry that I've lied to you about what I’ve been going through over the past couple of months. I just didn't want to worry anyone. Please… please don't think any less of me after all this.” “Why would I think less of you, what is it?” After those words had rung through the air, Aaron took a big gulp and prepared to confess. “I… came here to take my own life.” The second those last four words had reached her ears, Twilight’s eyes shot wide open as she gasped in horror. It all made sense to her: Him standing close to the edge of the cliff and his tear soaked face. It was now clear to hear that Aaron was in more anguish than she originally thought. Twilight knew she had to be careful, lest she lose him. Calming down, Twilight scooched more towards him as he quivered in sadness. “But why?” Twilight asked with reserved shock. “I love you. Your friends love you. Your entire family loves you and you have a lot to live for. Why do you want to die?” As if by cue, Aaron gripped the top of his beanie cap slowly and tightly, pulling it up, revealing his bald head. Completely absent of a single follicle of hair on his scalp, just his light-blue skin. Twilight covered her mouth in pure shock, only muttering “Oh god, Aaron…” “Twilight… I'm dying.” Aaron shuddered as he gave his answer. Twilight started to tear up at the revelation that a friend she knew was doomed to perish. “Wh-what happened to you?” Twilight muttered. “Leukemia.” Aaron meekly said with hints of sobbing. “It advanced to the point where… *sniff* nothing can be done. The chemotherapy that rendered me bald didn't do anything!” “How much time do you have left?” “As of now, *sigh* four months.” “But why, why did you want to kill yourself?” With his capacity for resisting sobbing gone, he couldn’t hold back anymore and began to full-on cry, cupping his face in his hands as tears drenched his face. “B-b-because… I C-COULDN’T BEAR T-TO *sniff* SEE MY FAMILY CRY WHEN I’M NEAR, KNOWING I’M A GONER, ESPECIALLY MY LITTLE BROTHER-RR!” As Aaron let out a heavy cry, Twilight couldn't stand to see an acquaintance of hers emotionally suffering in such a way, especially since it was her boyfriend. Knowing that it would mean the world to him in this situation, Twilight made the decision to stick by him, knowing of the heartbreak that would she would incur. Since he always was a good friend to her, Twilight Sparkle, without hesitation, wrapped Aaron in a warm and caring hug. The feeling and warmth of the embrace triggered something in Aaron. He felt that he truly had someone there for him in his time of need, a shoulder he could cry and vent his woes in. After a few minutes of processing his situation, Aaron burrowed his face in Twilight's shoulder and cried some more, returning her hug. As she felt his tears soak the arm of her shirt, Twilight rubbed his back with one of her hands, shushing with a gentle calming tone that was a stark departure from her usually calm and bookish demeanor. “-hy…” Aaron croaked mid cry. “Why does it have to be me that has to die?! What did I do wrong to deserve this?!” Sensing that he calmed down enough, Twilight broke the hug and looked upon him with a solemn expression. “Aaron,” Twilight started. “ I don't know what you think you did but you shouldn't be focusing on that. Life is random, you'll never know what could happen, but the best we could do is weather the storm and make the most of what we have.” Twilight still saw that Aaron was slightly depressed over his ordeal. “If you want, I'll be there for you if you need me, no matter what.” Those last few words struck a nerve with Aaron. He had a friend that'll be there to emotionally support him through his remaining four months. Slowly, but surely, he snapped out of his sadness and gave Twilight a brief hug of gratitude. “Thank you, Twily.” Aaron whispered, breaking the hug. “Who else knows about this?” “Apart from you, only my parents, my teachers, Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna. You gotta promise not to tell anyone else but our friends about this.” “Don’t worry about it. Nobody else but our inner circle will know.” Twilight said with a boop on Aaron's nose, eliciting a chuckle from him despite the somber atmosphere. “Heh, I'll be holding you to that promise.” Aaron remarked with amusement. “No need to worry, Aaron. I’ll stick with you through this, I promise” Feeling contented that he's on the path to coming to terms with his mortality, Aaron got up from the bench with Twilight, looking at her with a smile that bordered on loving. However, his train of thought was interrupted by a rumbling sound from his belly. “Hey Twilight, wanna stop by Sugarcube Corner and pick up some doughnuts?” Aaron asked. “Absolutely!” Twilight replied with glee. “My car is parked down near the lake. We can drive there.” As they walked away from the waterfall top, Aaron began to sweep the grief away from his mind, heeding his friend's advice. Though he knew his time was short, he'd do the best he could to be strong for his peers, for their sake and his own. All that mattered to him was that he’d live his life to its fullest and spend its remainder in the company of good people. > Chapter 2: The Last Birthday > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* *BE-click* Waking up and feeling the pleasant feeling of the early spring fill his lungs, Aaron woke up and stretched his legs. As he opened his eyes, he slowly lumbered to his calendar to check what date it was. As his eyes scanned through the calendar page for March, he noticed the date for the 4th. However, there was a red circle around it’s box with the words, “Happy Birthday” written within. “Hmmm, can’t believe I nearly forgot about all of that.” Aaron shook his head as he muttered those words. During the grief stricken past two months, Aaron had nearly forgotten about his birthday. In light of what was going on with him, he used to wish he had simply forgotten it,but his time with Twilight Sparkle last Saturday had caused him to recant that decision. As he finished washing up in the shower, Aaron walked over to the sink, brushing his teeth. Rinsing his mouth with mouthwash, he looked up at the mirror and took a somewhat curious glance at his bald reflection. “Wow, I look like a villain from one of those old spy movies.” Aaron mentally remarked. “If only I had a goatee though. Heh, ‘Peace through power.’” As he continued to observe himself in the mirror, Aaron inspected his face and saw an all too familiar sight: bloodshot eyes. As he continued to look at his reflection, Aaron grimaced at how his eyes were progressively becoming more bloodshot as his time grew closer to zero. “Ugh! I’ll never get used to seeing that.” He thought to himself as he put on his favorite,Stone Temple Pilots shirt. Walking into the living room with his jacket and backpack in hand, he saw his father looking at the morning paper, a daily ritual for him. Right away, Aaron knew his father heard him enter and saw a tear drip down his cheek. He knew his father was still upset at his condition and the hopelessness of the situation. However, after last week’s one-on-one with his girlfriend, Aaron understood he has to stay strong for others, even when they weren’t able to be strong for him. Stealing himself for a moment to regain his composure, Aaron mentally recited his motto he developed since that day: “And ever I fight on.” “Good morning.” His mother, Helene, said as she approached him, giving him a smooch on the forehead. “How are you this morning?” “Doing great, Ma.” Arron replied. As he devoured his breakfast like he hadn’t eaten a thing in days, he saw his mother staring down on the counter, sighing and gasping with sadness. Since it was his special day, it was especially hard on her, having to deal with the reality that today was the last day she would ever get to celebrate itn. In that moment, as if he let his emotions free for the briefest moment, he walked over to her and gave her a big hug. Sushing as he leaned his head into hers, he whispered into her ear: “Mom, it’s alright. I know things are hopeless but I’m glad to have you as my mother. I’ll love you no matter what, even though I’ll die soon. I am and always will be your son.” With both their tears welling up, Helene turned around and embraced her son proper. Unbeknownst to them, his father, Alan, had been observing the scene the whole time. Feeling the familiar sting in his heart,He walked over and joined the pair, draping his arms over his wife and eldest child. His eyes began to well up with tears as the hug persisted. He knew his son was not long for this world but he was determined to make what time he had left matter for the both of them. “Thanks… dad.” Aaron muttered. “I love you too, son.” Alan said, fixing his glasses and breaking the hug. Wiping a tear from his eyes, he put a hand on his son’s shoulder and exhaled. “I know you think we’re disheartened about your situation and I’d be lying if I said we aren’t. But, we’ll try our best to stay strong for you, as you try for us.” Aaron couldn’t help but shed a single tear at his father’s declaration. His spirits lifted even higher and a weight lifted off of him, he now knew his family will brave the ordeal with him. “Son?” “Yeah dad?” “Would you mind taking your brother to school today?” “Sure, I don’t mind.” Giving a quick whistle, Aaron called to his brother Darrel. “Yo, L.B., I’m takin’ ya to school! Hurry up and we’ll swing by Sugarcube Corner!” “Okay, give me a few!” Darrel shouted back. Nodding in agreement, Aaron turned to his dad with his backpack in hand. “Tell him I’ll be waiting for him in my car.” Aaron said to his dad before walking out to his car, boarding it and fiddling with the radio. After a few moments of tuning, a song came on that caught his attention. Aaron sighed as the song played. As soon as the vocals hit, it spoke volumes of his situation. Back when he was a kid he enjoyed it when  his dad played it during one of their fishing trips but now… it stung him like salt on a fresh wound. “It’s alright L.B.” Aaron whispered while shedding a tear. “I know you’re hurting over this. Just stay strong and I’ll be strong.” After a few minutes of collecting himself, Darrel took deep a breath and patted his brother on the back. “Now, let’s go get some donuts.” Aaron parked his car in the student parking lot,the morning sun’s light breaking through the clouds, sending soothing waves of warmth to his  body as his cells waged war among themselves. As Aaron reflected on his situation, he was interrupted by his brother calling to him. “Hey Aaron,” Darrel started. “What’s on your mind, L.B.?” Aaron replied “I just don’t understand why this is happening. I mean you’re my brother and I’m about to lose you. None of this is fair!” As he looked to a visibly distraught Darrel, he shut his eyes and sighed. Despite doing his best to console his parents and his little brother, the one that looked up to him, still felt heavy hearted at the thought of losing his best friend. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Aaron sighed once more. “I know Darrel, I know. That’s the thing I’ve come to understand about life. It doesn’t care about whether or not one has been good. Anything can happen at anytime and it could either be good or bad. Nothing in life is fair and we have to accept that .” “Why can’t it be?! You’re my big brother! I love you and I don’t want to lose you!” “And I don’t want to leave you and ma and pa alone either.” As Darrel began to cry once more, Aaron embraced him once more, mustering all his strength to not cry as well. “I don’t like this situation any more than you do and I’d love nothing more than to fix it. However, after I spoke with Twilight last week, I realized something.” *Sniff* “What’s that?” “Life is like a card game. You’re either dealt a good hand or a bad hand. I was dealt a bad hand and felt distraught, but I had to stay strong for you and our parents. It also taught me that time is short and we have to make most of it while we can. It’s helped me appreciate all the time I’ve spent with you all. So, I want my last memories to be happy ones with you, mom, dad, and my friends, cause you all mean the world to me.” With Aaron’s spiel, Darrel began to calm down, better understanding his brother’s perspective. Returning the hug, Darrel calmed down from his sadness. “Okay, big bro, I’ll be strong for you.” Feeling contented, Darrel broke from the hug with lifted spirits. “Thank you, L.B.” Aaron muttered as he got out of his car. “Come on, we got ourselves a day’s worth of learning to do.” With a chuckle, Darrel climbed out of the car and followed his brother into the school with his backpack in tow. Aaron scanned through his locker, decorated with pictures of his fondest memories: a camping trip with his family, an airsoft match with Flash Sentry, and his second date with Twilight Sparkle. Thoughts about her beauty and the good time at the renaissance fair they went to that day raced through his mind. They enjoyed taking a ride on a horse together and watching the jousting tournament with excitement and glee. Glancing further at the photo, he noticed a necklace, a small golden medallion with Twilight’s birthstone. Aaron remembered when he bought that for her, seeing her eyes open wide at the surprise gift and the tightest hug he ever gotten from her. “Gonna miss her when I’m gone.” Aaron sighed as he loaded his binder and journal into his bag. As he was about to back away from his locker, his nose caught a familiar scent from behind, like lavender and blueberries. Turning around, his eyes met Twilight Sparkle’s, complete with a loving smile. “Twi.” Aaron said as he embraced her with a peck on her lips. “So good to see you.” “I’m glad too.” Twilight replied, enjoying the embrace. Breaking from the hug, Twilight dusted off her shirt. “How are things going for you, Aaron?” “Going about as well as can be expected I had to console my family earlier this morning. My little brother is taking things the hardest.” “I understand, I can’t even imagine how hard it would be one to lose an older sibling.” Her mind flashing to her own older sibiling and how painful it’d be to lose him. “Yeah.” Aaron somberly agreed. “I just hate the thought of him having to endure all of this.” Beginning to feel heavy hearted, he gave Twilight another hug. “I just hope he’ll focus on the good memories we had. At least when I’m gone, he’ll have my car. But, heh, he’ll have to get his driver’s license first.” “It’d be a shame for something like that to be left unused.” “Yeah, at least it’ll help him in the long run.” Hearing the sound of the bell ringing, Aaron had to cut his time with Twilight short as his literature class was about to begin. “Anyways Twi, I’ll see you and Applejack at lunch.” “Okay, see you then.” As they both parted ways, Aaron reflected on how sweet she was, lamenting on leaving her brokenhearted. Steeling himself, he walked into his english class where his teacher, Ms. Cheerilee, greeted him. “Good morning, Mr. Hart.” Cheerilee greeted. “How are you today?” “Been better since the last couple of weeks.” Aaron shot back. “Still in pain though.” Cheerilee, like most of the CHS staff that were involved with him, knew of his condition. But, they swore not to reveal anything about it at the request of his and his parents wishes. Though they did a good job hiding it, they knew that they couldn’t keep it a secret forever, whether it be by accident or Aaron’s own doing. “Aw, don’t worry about it. Just keep your chin up and try not to let anything negative rule your mind.” Cheerilee said as Aaron sat down at his desk. “You’ll be in a good mood when you hear of today’s lesson plan.” “What’s on the lesson plan?” “Today, we’ll be discussing the book, Dune.” “Oh hey, I’ve been actually wanting to read that one.” “Well, now you’ll have your chance. But, fair warning, it’s a rather long novel.” “Eh, I’m used to reading big stories like that.” The students began pouring into the classroom, taking their assigned desks for the class. The assignment was pretty standard, read the book and write a report by the end of the semester. As far as assignments went, it seemed pretty enjoyable. However, as the class continued Aaron began to feel all too familiar pains throughout his body. While the pain wasn’t substantial, it made concentrating difficult and it wouldn’t be long before he needed to go to the nurses office to take his daily medication. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the medicine also tasted pretty terrible too. The air in the lunchroom was alive and rife with conversation as the students chatted with their friends. As Aaron moved around the lunchroom, his eyes caught the attention of a particular table among the sea of students. His eyes zero in on the table at which Twilight was sitting with her friends, Applejack and Rarity. “Well, howdy there, Aaron!” Applejack called to him. “Come on over ‘ere!” “Hello, girls.” Aaron said as he sat down with them. “No doubt that Twilight told you what’s going on with me.” Both Applejack and Rarity somberly bowed their heads as they sighed. “She did and I can’t even begin to express my sympathy for your plight” Rarity said. “I can only imagine how hard it must be for you.” “Well, ever since last week, I’ve started to come to terms with the whole thing.” Aaron replied as he pulled a lunch bag out of his pack. “Well now, it takes a lot to be strong in a bind like that.” Applejack added in. “I try to but we all have to cry at some point.” As Aaron was about to bring his lunch out, his lunch bag was abruptly snatched from his hands with an all too familiar chuckle. It was Canvas Brushstroke, former head of the gaming club and one of Canterlot High’s more well known bullies. Ever since he got into an argument with an art club member that escalated to blows, he was handed a week’s suspension and his banishment from said club. When he got back, he’d gotten into a pattern of intimidating and extorting any student he could, taking a fair amount of enjoyment out of the act. And he never missed an opportunity for a new target. As such, it was no surprise when Canvas threw the lunch bag into a nearby garbage can like it was a basketball. “Bitch.” Canvas said as he slapped Aaron on the back of his head and walked away. While it didn’t particularly hurt, Aaron wanted nothing more than to return the favor, only to be reminded of how much his body ached the more stress it was under. Closing his eyes and and taking a few deep breaths, Aaron regained his composure. “You alright?” Twilight asked with an air of concern. “Yeah, I’m good.” Aaron grumbled. “Don’t worry,” Rarity said as she reached into her purse for some money. “I’ll go buy you someth-” Her gesture was interrupted by Aaron holding up a finger. “It’s alright.” Aaron said as he pulled out another lunchbag. “I came prepared.” Ever since Canvas started picking on him last year, Aaron had made it a point to bring two packed lunches, just encase he pulled this stunt, which had almost become routine for him.. “Since when did you start this?” Applejack asked. “Beginning of last year.” Aaron said as he took a bite of his sandwich. “Been an asshole for a while and decided to make me his preferred punching bag.” “I still can’t believe he started that fight, much less turn into a such a jerk.” Twilight replied. As Aaron ate the last of his sandwich, he felt a buzzing in his pocket. Pulling out his phone, he saw that it was an alarm which read: “Pill time!” “What was that?” Rarity asked as Aaron packed up. “Time for me to take my pain meds.” Aaron replied with a sigh, giving Twilight a hug. “I’ll see you girls later. Take care.” Aaron walked along the halls towards Nurse Redheart’s office. He felt the pain beginning to eat away at him as he grew closer to his destination and he found himself welcoming the bitter taste of his medication.. After two minutes of walking, he reached his destination and greeted by the school nurse. “Hello Aaron, how has your day been?” Redheart asked as she rummaged through her medicine cabinet. “Some ups and downs but it’s been good for the most part.” Aaron answered back as he sat down on a couch next to a bed. “Though I’d be lying if I said I was looking forward to this.” “I know,” Redheart said as she handed Aaron a red capsule pill. “But at least it’ll help you stave off the pain. I’ll give you some sweet tea to help wash it down.” Nodding in agreement, Aaron plugged his nose, looked up and swallowed the pill. The taste and the texture made him gag a bit as he worked the medicine down his throat. With one big gulp, the deed was done. “Ugh, god, I really hate that.” Aaron said as he shivered. Pulling out a can of sweet tea from her fridge, Redheart handed the drink off to Aaron, who guzzled it down with gusto. “But at least it works quickly.” “That it does.” Nurse Redheart said as she sat down next to Aaron, putting a hand on his shoulder. “In your condition, you’ll need as much as possible to make yourself comfortable until… well…” “Don’t feel the need to sugarcoat it, Nurse.” Aaron interrupted. “I know I don’t have much time left and I already made my peace with that fact. Thanks for your concern though.” As Aaron relaxed as the medication dulled his pain, he heard the door open and saw Principal Celestia walk in. “Hello, Aaron.” Celestia waved with a smile. “Oh, heya Principal Celestia.” Aaron greeted as he shook her hand. “How have things been for you?” Celestia’s calm expression changed to stressed, likely meaning it’d been a busy morning. “Mrs. Harshwhinny handed me a stack of paperwork I had to do.” Celestia answered with an exhausted sigh. “Took me a few hours straight to finish. How was your lunch?” “Canvas thought it funny to play basketball with my food and slap the back of my head. I was sorely tempted to get up and slug him but I was in a good mood today.” “Well, I’m glad you didn’t act on that impulse. It’s always better to be the bigger man and not give into anger.” “Even then, I’m dangerously close to my wits end with him. So anyways, what brings you here?” “I actually came to take you somewhere.” “For what?” Aaron asked, standing up. “Am I in trouble?” Celestia moved toward him and put a hand on his shoulder. “No, but you’ll see why once we get there.” Celestia escorted Aaron out the door, waving Nurse Redheart goodbye as they walked down the halls. They walked around for a minute, making pleasant conversation about whatever was on their minds and even sharing a good laugh or two. Ever since his condition was brought to her attention, Celestia always had an ear out for him when he needed it, making sure he kept his morale and performance in his classes stable. Aaron really appreciated the lengths she went to help him, even keeping his status a secret. He feared what would happen if word of his impending fate reached the student body at large. Eventually, they reached their destination: a meeting room with no lights on. Unlocking the door, Celestia gestures Aaron inside. Stepping inside, he flipped the lightswitch on, unprepared for what waited. “Surprise! Happy Birthday, Aaron!” Stunned with surprise, he saw Twilight Sparkle, along with her friends Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash waiting for him. The room was decorated with the signature handiwork that Pinkie was known for. Along with the decor, there was boxes wrapped in gift wrap and a cake with eighteen candles. From the sight, Aaron knew what it was: Celestia and his friends had thrown him a surprise birthday party. “W-WWW-Wh-Wh-” Aaron stamered, speechless at the sight. His eyes began to tear up, not of sadness, but of joy, happiness unbound. “Well, do you like it?” Pinkie cheerfully asked. “H-H-How did you all do this?” Aaron muttered. “Well, after Twilight briefed us on your illness,” Rainbow Dash started. “Pinks and Twilight here shot around the idea of a surprise party.” “And while we were discussing it, Principal Celestia happened to listen in on us and offered to help organize this.” Fluttershy spoke up. “Since this is your last birthday, darling,” Rarity said, putting a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “We wanted to make this one the best.” Aaron began to stir from his initial shock, tears welling up more so than ever. His expression changed to that of a joyful smile. In his mind, he felt they didn’t need to do that but his heart thought otherwise. He appreciated what they’ve done for him. Quickly, he lunged at Twilight, wrapping her in a hug and burying his face in her neck. *Sniff* “Thank you, all of you.” Aaron muttered as Twilight wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t begin to describe how happy I am right now.” “We’re glad you’re happy, Aaron.” Twilight said as Aaron lifted his head up, making eye contact. Wiping the tears from his face, he gave her a quick kiss on her cheek, making her blush. “Though you didn’t have to, I’m grateful.” “Well now,” Celestia started. “Shall we start with presents?” “Ah reckon that sounds good.” Applejack agreed as Aaron took a seat. Applejack picked up a medium sized box and handed it to him. “‘Ere, this is from me.” Aaron tore the wrapping up and opened the box, revealing a blue denim jacket with rollable sleeves and plenty of pockets. “Thanks Applejack.” Aaron said as he put it on. “Comfy and stylish, I like it.” “Ahm glad you do, look mighty slick.” Fluttershy approached Aaron and handed him her gift. It looked to be a small set of papers and a picture of a somewhat small dog in a kennel. He was confused by what it meant. “What is this, Fluttershy?” “Oh, since I work at the animal shelter, I pulled a few strings to get a dog ready for you to adopt.” Aaron smiled as he looked on at the picture of the basset hound, looking all happy with its tail all waggly. “Stop by my work after school and I’ll help you get things in order. I’m sure this little guy will be happy with a good family.” “That he will,”Aaron said as he put the paperwork in a folder and in his bag. “Thank you, Flutters.” It was then Rainbow Dash’s turn to hand him her gift. “I hope you find this the most awesomest gift ever, ya knucklehead!” Aaron tore through the packaging and unveiled a pair of pilot shades and fingerless leather gloves. “Trust me, you’ll look about… 20% cooler with that getup.” “Well, I have no doubt about it.” Aaron said as he put the sunglasses on. “Thanks Dash.” “Oh Ooh! My turn, My turn!” Pinkie Pie sang as she skipped to Aaron with her gift, a cube shaped package. Shaking it a bit, he suspected it to be a humorous gift. As he unwrapped it, his suspicions were confirmed. It was a collection movies by Mel Brooks and a rather huge gummy bear, all welcomed by the classic ‘springy snakes in a can’ joke. Aaron couldn’t hold back laughter as Pinkie’s comedic charm did its work. “I’ve actually been wanting to get this for a while.” Aaron said with a chuckle. “I've always been a fan of Mel Brooks.” “I figured since you liked Blazing Saddles. That’s why I got it for you.” “Thank you very much, Pinks.” “No problemo, amigo!” She replied as she sat down. “You’re up, Rarity!” “Thank you, darling.” Rarity replied as she handed Aaron a gift bag. “Now Aaron, due to your... baldness, we figured that this one would mean the most to you.” Upon her words, Aaron dug his hand through the bag and felt a hairy mass. Grasping it, he pulled it out and saw it was a grass-green colored wig in a long and flowing style, different than his natural orange hair. Aaron was in awe at his gift. “How were you able to pull this off?” Aaron asked in shock. “Well, Twilight told me about how you wore that stuffy snow cap to hide your… condition and how uncomfortable it could be. So, she suggested the idea of a wig so that you won’t feel out of place.” Aaron continued to look on at his gift with joy, unable to formulate any words. “Go ahead, put it on.” He reached for his snowcap and gripped it, taking a deep breath. “I hope you all won’t find this awkward.” They both nodded no, giving him the go ahead. “Well, here goes nothing.” He pulled the hat off his head, revealing his bald head. Twilight and her friends were still surprised at such a sight, even after she broke the news to them. Putting his new wig on, adjusting it so it sat neatly on his head. Rarity handed him a mirror and he looked into it. “My god… It’s… amazing!” Aaron gasped as he went gaga over his full head of hair, the first he had since a month ago. “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!” “Simmer down there, pardner.” Applejack interjected. “No need to get overly excited.” “I know but I’m so glad I won’t keep sticking out like a sore thumb any more! Thank you, Rarity!” Aaron screamed with glee as he gave Rarity a hug in gratitude. “Mind letting me go, dear? You’re crushing me!” Rarity advised as Aaron let her go with an embarrassed look on his face. “But, I’m glad you like it.” “I’m sure he doesn’t need to say anything else to show it.” Twilight Sparkle remarked as she walked up to her boyfriend. “Now, it’s time he got my gift… at least part one of it.” “Part one?” Aaron asked as Twilight handed him a box, slightly bigger than a human hand. Opening it, he was presented with a palm-sized gold disc with a chain attached. “A pocket watch.” Aaron muttered as he opened it. Inside, it was a standard pocket watch setup but with a familiar picture inside. He found his grin growing as he remembered the t photo from their third date at the bowling alley. He remembers Twilight beating him by a point with her jumping up and down cheering. Though he lost, the fact that they both had fun was all that mattered. Taking a look at the backside of the watch, he saw something written in cursive. “Semper Amici, what does that mean?” “It means ‘Forever Friends’ in latin, Aaron.” The teen actually felt more tears ready to leak from his eyes, but held them back as he held the watch close to his chest.  “I’m touched, I truly am.” “Well now, I guess it’s time for part two of your gift.” “What would that be?” Twilight then turned her gaze to her friends and Celestia with an expression that spelled ‘May I?’ to which they nodded with approval. With that, she then took off her glasses and sat on Aaron’s lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. He knew full well what was coming next as Twilight’s lips touched his in a passionate kiss. He held her close as they let their love for each other take over. The kiss lasted for a minute before they broke it to catch some breath. “I can’t overstate how much I love you, Twi.” Aaron said as he rubbed Twilight’s back. “You’ve always been there for me even when things are what they are now.” “And to think we hooked up over a study session.” Twilight laughed. “Still, I enjoyed the good times we had and I hope to have more with what time we have left.” “Likewise.” Twilight got of his lap and took her seat next to him as they all began shooting the breeze. For the next twenty minutes, they sat around sharing stories, both funny and interesting. Laughs were exchanged and the air was kept alive with the sounds of conversation. “Alright, I think it’s time for cake.” Celestia declared as she pulled out a lighter and lit all eighteen candles. She moved the cake in front of Aaron as everyone gathered around him for the traditional birthday chorus. “Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Aaron, Happy birthday to you!” “Be sure sure to make a wish before you blow out the candles!” Pinkie chimed as Aaron looked on at the eighteen individually dancing flames. If it were any other birthday, he would’ve thought of something for himself, like a stroke of good luck or anything material. However, due to his situation, there was only one thing that was on his mind, one thing he truly desired. Before he let loose an exhale, Aaron mentally stated his wish. “I wish… I wish for everyone I love… to be happy.”