Useless?

Sunshine is leaking through the boards on my window. It’s not that the window is broken… it’s so I don't slip out and fall. Not that I can.

I want to stay in bed, but the last time I tried, Daddy became angry and pulled me out, and it hurts when he does that. I cast my sheets away and plant my hooves upon the floor.

I hobble on my two good legs, trying to ignore the small stubs of flesh that protrude from where the other two should be. I’ve spent my entire life looking at other ponies who never realize the gifts they’ve been given. All I’ve ever seen is what’s been taken from me.

My parents, at least, still love me... I think.

I carefully make my way down the steps, trying not to slip and hurt myself. This is another invention for normal ponies, but I’ve managed.

I do my best to trot up to the breakfast table, Mommy and Daddy already having their breakfast. Neither of them speak besides Daddy giving an acknowledging grunt, not looking up from his newspaper.

I know not to speak, so I get myself cereal, some milk, a spoon and a bowl, one by one. I accidentally drop the bowl, my treacherous mouth failing me as the small object falls and shatters on the ground. Daddy quickly comes up to me and hits my face. I slide to the ground as Daddy returns to his seat.

"Useless."

The word stings, but it sounds too familiar to stick anymore. I struggle back to my hooves and clean up the bowl the best I can. I feel my upper lip and find that it’s bleeding. I wash the blood off.

Mommy gives me a sad smile, but quickly hides it so Daddy won't see.

I decide to go without breakfast and grab my backpack, exiting through our front door. I give a hasty “Bye!” a second before I close the door, journeying into the Manehatten streets.

I hobble myself to school, ignoring the “awww”s and “poor filly”s from the ponies I pass by. Daddy says not to speak to any of these ponies, but never says why... I have to listen to him, though.

I reach my school. My friends are by the front tree, chatting up a storm. As soon as I step within school boundaries, they look over at me.

"Oh, guess who's here." One tries to hide his chuckle. I give them a smile, as I usually do.

The day thankfully passes quickly—it's already lunch. I stand in line, get my food, and make my way to the closest table. My friends come over and knock my tray from my mouth, making my food fall to the ground, the falling plastic reopening the cut on my upper lip, and making me tip and fall over. My friends laugh and I laugh too, but it's a hollow laugh, as I'd rather cry.

"Ha ha! You got me good guys!" One of them reaches their hoof to help me up, but as I reach for it, he pulls it away, making the other laugh harder. I struggle to push myself up and they leave to eat their food.

"Don't worry," I tell myself. "They're just teasing you. They're doing this because they love you." After I get up, I wipe the blood from my upper lip, which is bleeding quite badly. I decide to go to the nurse's office immediately.

As I open the door, trying not to fall, Nurse Redheart comes to help. "Oh, Locke, your lip! What happened?"

I told her what happened in the cafeteria as she bandages my lip. She shakes her head, but doesn't say anything. She had recommended for me to get help, but found out my parents won't help (not Daddy, at least) and the principal won't do anything.

I look at my face in the mirror. My bright blue eyes stare back, observing my purple fur and electric blue hair. My cutie mark is a key, because I can… lock and unlock things, apparently. I’m not able to take advantage of my talent very often.

Maybe if I had wings or a horn, my problem wouldn't be so bad.

"Locke, have the rest of my lunch. You must be hungry."

I look back at her briefly, then decide to take the food next to her.

Nurse Redheart suddenly says, "Sadly, today... is my last day working here."

I stop before the food reaches my mouth.

"What?!" I drop the food back onto the table and reach to hug her. "I don't... want you to leave."

She holds onto me and returns the hug. "I'm so sorry, but Ponyville needs more medical staff and... it seems like a nicer place. I'm leaving in a week." She grips me a bit tighter. "Maybe you want to come with me?"

I shake my head. "Daddy won't let me. He... would hurt us."

She sighs sadly, knowing about my situation well enough. "I won't forget you, okay?"

I nod and let go of her as the bell rings. I wave my last goodbye to Redheart and the rest of the day goes in a blur.

I pick up my backpack and trudge out of school. I go back home, ponies again giving me remorse as I pass them by, me once again doing my best to ignore them.

I enter the house as quietly as I can, so as not to wake Mommy or Daddy if they’re already here. I drag myself upstairs to my room and get to work on my homework.

It was going well, but as I leave my chair to get a snack, it falls over, giving a loud thump.

Almost instantaneously, Daddy runs into my room and starts screaming at me, hitting me. This feels like a daily ritual.

"Don't worry," I whisper to myself. "It’s only because he loves you...."

Daddy finally leaves and Mommy slips herself into my room. We both crawl up onto my bed and hold one another. It looks like she’s been crying. I don't mention it, but it makes me feel just as sad.

"You hungry?"

I shake my head. I’m not hungry anymore... just tired. Mommy nods, and she slowly starts squeezing me. She does it to a point where it hurt, and I whimper. She lets go, apologizes and quietly leaves. I get off my bed shortly after and quietly leave the house, not wanting to face Daddy anymore.

It isn't even close to sunset, so I decide to go to the park. My friends are hanging out there, having... uh... cigarettes, I think they’re called. They notice me and their eyes narrow. I ignore the feeling to turn around and leave; they'd just chase after me, anyway.

"Hey, we want to show you somethin'. Can you come with us?" They all look at me expectantly. I decide to go with them, so as to avoid Daddy for a bit longer.

They lead me to a glade, one that ponies wouldn't visit often due to the fact that it was outside town. Most ponies wouldn't care about a place like this.

Two of them grab me and the third one quickly ties my hind leg to the branch above me, leaving most of my body hanging, my front hoof left alone so I can hold myself up.

"What are you doing?" I ask when I have the chance.

"Don't worry, we'll be back soon."

They turn and leave so quickly I barely have the time to respond. So, I stay hanging there for a few minutes.

"Ha! Funny, guys! You can let me down now!"

Silence.

"Guys?"

I feel my eyes become a bit wet.

Okay, okay, they're just teasing you because they love you...right? They sure got me this time! Heh....

Time passes. Not just minutes, but hours. The sky grows dark.

"Oh, jeez... guys, this isn't funny anymore. I-I'm getting a bit hungry. I can't feel my leg."

Silence.

"Guys?"

I giggle, my eyes tearing up. "It's okay, you're not useless, you're not useless, you... whoops, almost fell asleep there... so silly...."

I can't see clearly anymore.

"MOMMY! Mommy! Mommy... please... I love you... Mommy... I'm so sorry...."

Still, silence.

"I'm not useless, I'm not useless... I'm not...."

I cry myself to sleep.

Cold. So cold.

I can barely think. Just... hungry and thirsty....

How long have I been hanging here?

I can't feel my hind leg anymore...

Somepony...

I shiver in the cold night air. It has recently gotten below freezing, and I've been hanging here the whole time.

So cold...

They didn't come back. Who needs them, anyway?

I can't cry anymore. My tears will just freeze on my face. It hurts, worse than Daddy's hoof.

So cold...

Just...

Please...

Silence.