My Dear Caramel,
The first thing that I want you to know is that this was not your fault at all. I made this decision by myself, so don't you even for a second think that I chose this path because of you. In fact, you've been one of the few good things to ever happen to me, and I will always be grateful for that.
Before I met you, my life was unbearably dull. All I did day in and day out was grow apples, buck apples, gather apples, cook with apples. From Golden Delicious Ranch to Appleoosa Orchard my life was filled with nothing but apple trees. It was the only life I had ever really known, so I didn't question it. However, I could not escape the belief that I was destined for something better. That I was meant to be something more than just an apple bucker.
I tried everything I could in my job to try and make my feeling a reality. I climbed the ranks of the Apploosa Orchard company and even helped to found the town. Having become the manager of the Orchard, I had hoped that my life would be complete. But no matter how hard I tried nothing ever seemed to make my life complete. I needed something else, something new to make my life actually have a purpose. Make it actually have a meaning. And then you came along.
As you know I'd had my fair share of flings and one night stands with the girls in the town, but not one of them seeme right for me I never could see myself settling down with Carrot Top or Derpy Doo or any of the other girls. I had never considered that perhaps I had been looking for companionship in the wrong place. When you came to town, everything else seemed so insignificant. I know it sounds corny, but I honestly do believe that I fell in love with you the moment I saw you.
I can still remember our first date. That's a memory that I will definitely be taking with me. You took me out to see a show in that big theatre down in Red Creek. You never did tell me how you managed to get such amazing tickets to that, but I suppose it doesn't really matter any more.
We were trying to hide that night, unwilling to let anyone see what was really happening between us. I wonder, if we had kept our love a secret, would I still need to do this? Would I still need to leave you? I just want you to know that I love you, and all of those nights that we spent together were some of the most beautiful moments of my life. When we loved, the world stood still and I felt completely safe. But that feeling was regrettably short lived.
I think that I started to consider this option right back when our love was first discovered by the people of Appleoosa. I should have known that it was foolish to try and kiss you in public like that, but I didn't want us to have to go around in secret any more. I had hoped that our friends would understand. But once we were found out, I lost my job, ponies started insulting me as I walked past them, ponies spat on me and kicked dust in my face. They spray painted "COLT CUDDLING CLOPPERS" on our front door and broke our windows.
Why do they hate us so much? Lots of the people in this town have known us for years and never had any complaints about us. Even the Sheriff used to call on you and me for help from time to time. But once we came out, everypony just shunned us. Even my own family refused to speak to me any more, I was so much of a disgrace to their name. But I had you, and for a while that was all that mattered.
I never meant to hurt you at all, you mean too much to me for me to ever be able to intentionally harm you. But when those ponies in white hoods tried to burn down our house, I knew that I had to do something. If they wanted to hate us for our love then I would let them hate me as much as they liked.
But I couldn't fight them. I was just one colt against at least ten of them, and some of them looked incredibly powerful. So instead I have chosen to give you back your life. Without me in the picture, maybe life will be able to return to normal for you. But I can't run the risk of ruining everything by coming back one day, so I am taking my last journey down the one road that I definitely can't come back from.
My rope is ready and as I write this, three words keep buzzing around my head like angry bees desperate to escape:
I Love You, I Love You, I Love You.
Truly I do.
Goodbye Caramel.
Yours forever,
Braeburn.
PS: May I ask of you one favour? Could you bury me next to the tree that Cousin Applejack gave me? I just want to be near my family again, even if it is only in death. Thank you, Caramel.
This is a note from the author.
Bullying is never a good thing to do and choosing to bully someone because of who they love is criminal. Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered is not a crime and it is not an abnormality. making someone's life miserable for any reason is inexcusable and should never be tolerated. 100 years ago, homosexuality was treated as a mental condition, that is true. But 100 years ago black people were still being treated as second class citizens, religion still held power over science and sexism was still considered normal. We have moved on, we have moved up in the world but one problem still remains. There are still people in this world who think that it is acceptable to bully people purely because of who they are, what they look like, who they sleep with. Thankfully, I have never been put in a situation where my sexuality has become a problem, but there are many people who have. This story is completely fictional, but I can guarantee that it is true for at least a few people. Sadly, this is how a lot of stories in the real world still end. Please, make it stop. Please help take away the hatred by showing kindness and compassion to others.
Thank you
Make it stop (the true stories)
