I Wish You Could

by Tofazz

Rating: teen
Tags: Sad, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dinky Hooves, Derpy Hooves, Cheerilee
Length: 5844

Ditzy reads a letter she sent to her father.

Being a single mother can be tough, especially when you have nopony to share your pain with.

Ditzy always hid her pain from her daughter, keeping her feelings bottled up inside.
After an unfortunate release of her emotions, will Ditzy be able to make it right by her daughter?

Will a second chance emerge with help from unexpected places?

A/N: This is a sequel to 'A Love Like No Other' and a prequel to I Wish I Was

You don't have to read any of them to enjoy this work. Rated teen because of sensitive subjects.

Published 2012-09-25 20:24:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-09-25 20:24:01 UTC

I Wish You Could

I Wish You Could

Dinky slowly opened her eyes and rubbed them with her hooves. She looked around, trying to focus, only just making out the shapes of her room in the darkness. She spotted a slit of light coming from under the bedroom door. Squinting, she wondered why she was awake at this hour. Her ears rose; they picked up a faint, wet sob.

The violet foal slowly stood up from her bed, tufting her golden mane in place. Her eyes locked onto the door as she heard another cry. Her hooves softly tapped the floor as she made her way towards the door; she gently pushed it open, having her ears scan for sounds in the house.

Hearing somepony in the first floor, she made her way towards the stairs. Her eyes still trying to adjust to the light outside her room. Some of the steps creaked as she slowly descended towards the living room.

In the middle of the room she saw her mother holding a paper note in her gray hooves; her golden mane was draped over her eyes, small tears found a path down her cheek, falling onto the note and table.

Dinky stood still watching her mother for a while before making her way towards her. She tugged her mothers tail, arching her brows down. “What’s wrong, mommy?”

Ditzy rolled up the paper and put it in a small wooden box with delicate steel flowers adding to the details. She brushed away her tears before lifting Dinky up onto her lap. She held her tight for a while before gently ruffling her mane. She looked at Dinky with a smile of warmth, comfort and care.

“Nothing is wrong, Dinky. I just had a tough day at work.”

Dinky stared at the wooden box before turning to her mother again. “What was that note, Mommy?”

The gray mare stood up while holding her daughter in her hooves. “It’s nothing special, it’s just an old letter I look at sometimes.”

They slowly made their way towards Dinky’s bedroom, She felt a tired feeling gently embrace her as she was cradled in her mothers hooves while making their way up the steps.

Ditzy tucked her daughter in under her blanket, giving her a soft peck on her forehead.

Dinky looked at her mother with a glowing smile. “You shouldn't be sad Mommy, I love you.”

Ditzy looked at her daughter before sitting down next to the bed, she smiled before her soft, circling voice, as a warm hand is gentle circling the wrist filled the room in a velvet lullaby.

“Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

When you wake, you'll have cake,

And all the pretty little bunnies.

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys,

A coach, and six little bunnies.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

When you wake, you'll have cake,

And all the pretty little bunnies.

Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,

Go to sleep my little baby.

When you wake, you'll have cake,

And all the pretty little bunnies.”

Dinky's eyelids slowly closed as the song came to a finish, she felt her mother kiss her forehead again before slowly making her way to the door.

As the door opened, Ditzy turned around and looked at her daughter with a small tear running down her cheek. “I know you do, Dinky. And know that, no matter what, I will always love you.”

The gray mare closed the door, letting go of a small sigh. Standing still she stared out into the empty air, feeling pressure build up behind her eyes. Shaking her head she started to make her way down the stairs, carefully placing her hooves down as the steps let out small creaks.

She approached the table in the living room; the small candle that stood on top of it flickered with a dim, soft light bathing the room in an orange glow. As she sat down, she felt the warm embrace from the small flame, tingling playfully on her cheeks.

Opening the wooden crate she pulled out the letter, rolling it out in front of her. Her eyes walked down the piece of paper. Feeling tears pressing on she placed her hooves in front of her eyes.

Sobbing, she muttered to herself. “Why can’t you see what I see? I wish you could... just open your eyes and see past your sense of pride.”

* * *

Dinky was awoken by a stream of light warmly embracing her face. She tossed around, forcing her eyes open, squinting, she glanced over her room. Slowly sitting up on the side of her bed rubbing a hoof drowsily in her face.

She jumped down from her bed making her way towards the bedroom window, drawing away the curtains she smiled upon a cloudless sky. A good time passed while the small filly basked in the morning sun; she stopped mid-yawn as her mind wandered off to wondering why her mother had not woken her up this morning.

She opened her door, raising her ears, listening for any sounds in the house. Slowly making her way down the stairs, she tilted her head from side to side, being wary of any movement. Reaching the living room she spotted her mother, sleeping quietly with her head resting on the table.

Dinky tip hoofed over to the table, smiling as she nudged her mother. “Good morning, Mommy.”

She stood there looking at her mother with a childish grin, waiting for a retaliation. Her smile faded a little with no reaction from her mother.

Nudging her harder, she let go of a laugh. “Come on, Mommy. I got to get ready for school.”

Her smile disappeared and her eyebrows narrowed as she stared at Ditzy who gave no response to her attempts to wake her up.

She grabbed hold of her mother and yanked her arm roughly, proclaiming with irritation in her voice. “Come on. Mom! Wake up!”

Ditzy slowly fell out of the chair, landing with a thud on the floor. Her face showed no motion and her eyes blankly stared out into the empty air, her chest barely rose with her short breaths. From her grey hoof Dinky spotted a small plastic cup rolling away.

Feeling a lump grow in her throat, she gently nudged her mothers side. “Mom... what's wrong?”

Ditzy showed no reaction to her daughters gentle nudge; the small filly felt her breath shorten and her heart tremble. She softly nuzzled her mother's neck while her voice wavered. “Mom... p-please wake up.” Letting go of a high pitched laugh, she ruffled Ditzy’s mane. “Stop joking, Mom... I’m already late for school.”

Dinky’s heart tightened and her pupils dilated, her voice broke into high pitches. “Don’t worry, Mom! I will get help.”

The small filly made a leap towards the door, she slammed it open and galloped towards the school. Her eyes squinted as the wind whipped her face, flinging her tears away. Every breath stung more and more in her chest with her hooves growing heavier by every step.

She felt relief wash over her as she saw a familiar building getting closer in the horizon. Upon reaching the school playground, she spotted a cerise mare standing at the far end, talking to one of her students.

Dinky slalomed between foals narrowing her gaze on the cerise mare, as she closed the gap she yelled as high as her lungs allowed. “Cheerilee!”

Cheerilee turned her head, her brows furrowed from the break in the little filly’s voice. Dinky fumbled her hooves tripping over, landing in a sandpit next to the swings.

The foals in the yard stopped what they were doing and stared enraptured by the small filly lying in the sandpit, bellowing her lungs in desperate cries.

Cheerilee hurried over, sitting down she gently picked Dinky up. Placing her on her lap, she brushed away the sand in the filly's face, looking at her with her brows arched down. “What’s the matter, Dinky?”

Dinky looked up with tears making rivers in her sand covered coat, she gasped for air between her sobs. “My mom!” she said before gasping for air once more. “She needs help, she’s sick!”

While sitting on her teachers lap, Dinky explained what had happened, how her mother was unresponsive when she tried to wake her up. Using her hooves to rub away some of the sand, she took a huge breath before breaking up into tears once more. Between her sobs she told how a plastic cup had rolled away from her mothers hooves as she had fallen off the chair, and how her breaths were short.

Cheerilee instantly stood up, lifting Dinky onto her back. The cerise mare looked around meeting the eyes of every foal in the schoolyard, making a strict frown, she said loudly. “Now behave while I’m gone, students. I won't be long.”

Making their way out of the playground Cheerilee entered a fast trot; she turned her head around facing Dinky, who clinged on to her rose colored mane. The small filly looked up with eyes big as dinner plates, Cheerilee pressed forth a smile. “Don’t worry, Dinky. We will get your mother the help she needs.”

They raced through the marketplace feeling eyes following them as they moved past, Cheerilee ignored the stares as she quickly rounded the a corner. At the end of the road she spotted the hospital, the white building casted a thick shadow over the road.

She turned around facing Dinky, asking with a troubled expression. “Do you remember anything out of the ordinary happening to your mother lately, Dinky?”

Dinky Shook her head, while looking down. “No, Mommy was sad yesterday, but she is sad a lot. she tries to hide it from me, but I can see her being upset.” She looked back up to Cheerilee with a small tear running down her cheek.”Yesterday she was reading a letter that made her cry, I don’t like it when Mommy cries, because I don’t know why, and that makes me sad.”

Upon reaching the hospital Cheerilee stopped in front of the entrance, gently lifting Dinky down. She placed a hoof softly around her, trying to smile as she said. “Wait here, Dinky. I will get somepony who can help.”

Cheerilee hugged the small filly tightly before holding her out on a hooves length, she brushed away a tear while smiling reassuringly. “Everything will be alright.”

Dinky stared at Cheerilee disappearing into the hospital, she fought off the urge to run home to her mother and decided to sit and wait for her teacher. As she looked around she realized she was all alone, nopony around lifted a brow at a small filly sitting alone in front of the hospital. She felt her heart pounding harder in her chest and her breath became short, feeling her stomach knotting itself.

She turned her head as she heard the doors open, seeing a cerise mare approaching her. At the sight of her teacher she felt the looming state of panic slipping away. She approached Cheerilee who met her in a warm embrace, softly patting Dinky on the head.

Dinky closed her eyes for a second, feeling calm, before pushing herself away. looking at Cheerilee she waved her arms backwards, almost shouting at her. “We need to go and help, Mommy!”

Cheerilee pressed forth a shallow smile, picking Dinky up cradling her softly in her hooves. “Don’t worry, Dinky. There are people heading over there now to help your mother.”

Dinky wiped away a tear, staring down at her hind hooves. “How do we know that they will do it? No one in this town cares for me or my Mommy.”

Cheerilee felt a ripple hit her heart, she looked at the small filly she cradled in her arms. What would cause somepony this young to say something like that? She swallowed hard, feeling an uncomfortable lump grow in her stomach.

Uncertain what to do, she did what came natural to her, enclosing the small filly in her hooves and whispering into her ear. “I will not let anything happen to your mom, Dinky.”

Dinky saw a group of ponies dressed in white heading off in great speed, she looked at Cheerilee with her face wrinkled into a frown. The cerise mare smiled softly at the little filly. “They are going to help your mom, she will be here soon.”

Dinky locked her eyes on the way the crew of white dressed ponies had left; she felt exhaustion wash over her, dragging her eyelids down. She jolted up as her head tilted down.

She turned around as she felt a hoof softly ruffling her mane, she was met with a warm smile from Cheerilee who softly said to her. “Why don’t you try to relax, Dinky? I will wake you up when your mom arrives.”

Dinky stared down into the ground, feeling pressure build up behind her eyes. “I’m scared, Cheerilee.”

Cheerilee looked at the small filly sitting in front of her, she felt her stomach knot as she made an impossible promise. “I promise, Dinky. Everything will be alright. Nothing will happen to your mom.” She leaned down and gave Dinky a soft peck.

The small filly looked up at the cerise mare with teary eyes, stuttering she asked. “M-miss. Cheerilee... could you sing for me?”

She looked at Dinky with a warm smile. “Of course, do you have anything in mind?”

Dinky gave a small smile, faintly blushing. “ My Mom always sings ‘Pretty Little Bunnies’ to me.”

Cheerilee brushed Dinky’s mane. “I know that one.”

The filly closed her eyes as Cheerilee’s voice rung over hospital yard, embracing Dinky like a mothers love towards her baby. As the song continued, she felt a calmness wash over her, like she was back in her mothers lap, before she was cradled into a soft sleep.

Cheerilee stared out in the empty air while she moved her body back and forth, humming the lullaby over again. She looked down at the filly nestling in her lap, breathing heavily from the ordeal her small body had been through. Cheerilee brushed away a strand of hair from Dinky’s face, smiling, she softly whispered. “Hush now, everything will be alright.”

She felt the sun embrace every inch of her body, raising her face as she closed her eyes enjoying the warm sensation gently kissing her on the cheeks. She listened to the soft song of the surrounding birds, frequently interrupted by short snores from her lap.

Cheerilee opened her eyes as she heard fast stomping from down the road, turning her head, she saw the group of ponies who left earlier returning, while holding Ditzy in between them on a stretcher.

The cerise mare sat still cradling Dinky in her hooves while she watched them draw closer. One of the stallions left the group as they passed by, making his way over to Cheerilee. He took heavy breaths as he stopped in front of her before handing her a rolled up piece of paper.

Cheerilee nodded slowly as she accepted the paper, before she looked up towards the stallion with a questioning stare.

He shifted uncomfortably in his pearl white robe, his dark brown hooves scraped the ground before he lay his crystal green eyes on the filly sleeping in the lap in front of him.

Cheerilee smiled comfortingly towards him, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, she’s sleeping heavily.” She looked down at Dinky, before softly speaking to the stallion. “It is quite the morning she’s had.”

The stallion shifted his eyes up, before speaking in a deep voice. “You were right... we found this lying next to her.”

He handed her a small plastic cup as he looked at Dinky who rested in front of him, his eyes shimmered while he whispered. “What will you tell her?”

Cheerilee shook her head. “Nothing, her mother will have to do that herself.” She let go of a small sigh. “When will we be able to visit her?”

The brown stallion that stood in front of her softly rubbed his blond bearded chin. “She is stable right now.” He pressed forth a smile. “I will make sure you can visit her within the next hour.”

Smiling as she looked at him, she softly said. “Thank you.”

Cheerilee watched as the stallion disappeared through the door, before she rolled up the piece of paper and started to read.

*~*~*~*

Dear Dad.

I remember from my childhood how you never loved me, never gave me approval. I remember the first time I bruised my chin because of my clumsiness, the cold gaze I got from you, one who is supposed to love me, that feeling never left me.

I remember I came home when the bullies first started to harass me, I hoped you would make me feel better, but you just shook your head in disappointment towards your own daughter who was in pain. You didn't give me a hug, or a comforting word, you just looked at me with those cold hard eyes.

I even remember how you yelled at my mother for taking me out of school, how you yelled at her for no reason other than that she wanted to make me feel better. I could never understand why you did it, all I remember is how sad I was for making you angry all the time.

I remember that under our dinners, you never uttered a word. You sat still eating the food placed in front of you, not saying anything before I left the room.

Or the times you thought I wasn’t nearby, how you proclaimed that I could never be your daughter. I watched from afar how you made mom sad with those words, I could never forget when I saw a tear running down her cheek. I remember the feeling I had going to my room that day, I thought of what was wrong with me. I could never understand it, I just knew that I made you angry.

I remember when I started at school again, how nervous I was, just how scared I felt. My mother always stood by my side, while you never did anything other than to reject any approach I did towards you. The feeling I got when you denied me a hug, the feeling of the ice-cold gaze I got instead.

How could I make you so angry, by just being who I am?

I remember when you let me stand alone, mourning the death of my mother. I remember how sad you looked at the funeral, how sad and alone. All I wanted to do was to comfort you, to mourn together with you, mourn over the love we both lost. But I was afraid, afraid that you once again would reject me.

Afraid, that I once again would make you angry for being me.

I never heard from you again, not even the months after my mother died. You left me alone to deal with the pain I had no idea on how to handle. I never knew why, but I checked my mail every day, in a small hope that one of these days you would reach out to me. But I always walked in again empty hoofed.

I remember how I hoped you would at least visit me at the hospital, if not for me, you would come to see your grand-daughter. But you never showed, I was alone during the days I was there. They told me how they had tried to call you, and how you hung up the moment you heard my name.

I always hoped you would come one day to visit me and Dinky, I hoped so you could see what a wonderful miracle she is. But how could you see that? when you never came around.

How can you do to her, what you did to me? How can you be so set on your pride to ignore this beautiful life that is springing up in front of my very own eyes?

I hope one day, you will come around and see what I, even with my eyes can see. When I look at my daughter, I only see kindness. I see innocence that have yet been tainted by this cruel world you so happily embrace. I see somepony who one day will grow up to be everything she wishes in life.

She has done nothing wrong, she is what you hoped I would be, normal. She is the daughter you always wished to have. She could never hurt anypony by being just who she is, unlike me.

I wish you could just open your eyes and see what I see.

Love

Your Daughter, Ditzy.

*~*~*~*

Cheerilee swallowed hard as she rolled up the letter, wiping away a tear that had found its way down her cheek, she whispered. “Oh Ditzy... nopony should go through this alone.”

She stroked Dinky’s mane while trying to place herself in Ditzy’s hooves, she thought back on her own childhood. How both her parents always were there for her, she could not imagine a world where her father could be cruel to anypony. He was a pony one could rely on, always.

Letting go off a small chuckle, she remembered how shocked her father had been when she came home from school with dreads in her mane. But instead of condemning her, he laughed and gave her a pat on the head.

She could never forget her mother's reaction when she told them that she wanted to be a teacher. The smile, and tears of joy that came while she embraced her in a hug, and how her father sat in his chair nodding happily in acceptance with a pipe in his muzzle.

Cheerilee looked down at Dinky, feeling a stab in her heart as tears welled up in her eyes. She realized that she could never understand Ditzy’s pain, as little as Ditzy could understand hers.

Her eyes shifted around realizing that some time had passed; she softly nudged Dinky. “Wake up, Dinky. I think we can see your mother now.”

Dinky slowly opened her eyes and let go of a small yawn, she smiled as she smacked her lips together. The small filly rose up and stretched out her hooves while nodding towards Cheerilee.”Good, I miss Mommy.”

They made their way to the entrance, as they entered they were met with a bright white room. It had tall windows with pearl white see through curtains covering them, casting a dim shadow down on the gray tiled floor.

“Woah! Look, Cheerilee, the floor is making shapes!”

Cheerilee smiled as she saw how enraptured Dinky was with the brightly colored direction tiles on the floor. A blue patterned arrow pointed towards a desk in the middle of the room; the desk circled around a couple of mares sitting in the middle, ready to answer any question one may have to them.

As they reached the desk they were met with a big smile from one of the mares. Her bright yellow mane hid behind a white band on her forehead, in the middle of the band a deep red cross prided it. She looked at them with deep blue eyes while handing Dinky a tiny popsicle with her light purple hoof.

She smiled towards Dinky before she looked at Cheerilee. “What can I help you and your daughter with?”

Cheerilee cocked her head towards the mare sitting behind the desk, she fumbled her words as she softly smiled. “S-she’s not my daughter, we’re here to visit her mother, Ditzy Doo.”

The light purple mare got a faint tint of red in her cheeks as she quickly shifted through the papers in front of her. “Ah yes! She is down the hall, just follow the yellow line till you reach room number 3-B”

“Thank you.”

Cheerilee turned around seeing that Dinky already was over at the corner, jumping up and down in anticipation on the yellow line while she waited for her. As she made her way over towards the filly her thoughts wandered off. A mare can imagine sometimes though, can’t she?

Dinky stopped jumping and playfully stomped her hoof into the ground. “Come on, Cheerilee. I wanna see Mommy!”

Rounding the corner they saw a long hall brightly lit up by strong lights placed in front of each of the dark blue doors. As they made their way down passing multiple doors, Dinky jumped cheerfully between the yellow line and the light gray tiles on the sides.

Making their way down they met several nurses running past them in a rush to reach their next patient, they somehow found it in them to stop for a short second and smile towards Cheerilee and Dinky. The cerise mare could only smile back, while her eyes landed on the happy filly jumping in front of her. Is this how it would be to have a daughter?

Dinky stopped by an old pony sitting in a wheelchair, staring enraptured at the bandages on his head with her mouth wide open. Cheerilee came up behind her and tapped her on the head, saying in a strict voice. “Dinky! It’s not nice to stare.”

The old pony smiled gently towards them, looking at Dinky with aging hazel brown eyes. He lifted his hooves touching the bandages, with a brumbly rusted voice he said. “It’s quite alright my dear, when I was at that age I would be curious about this as well.”

Seeing that Dinky stood completely frozen staring at his head, he let go off a deep rustic laughter. “What is a lovely little filly like you doing in this part of the hospital?”

Dinky snapped out of her trance and jumped up with a big grin. “I’m going to visit my Mommy! She was sick this morning, but now that we can visit her she is healthy again.”

The old pony chuckled as he gave her a wrinkly smile. “Well don’t let this old fool hold you back, I’m sure your mother is waiting for you.”

Dinky let out a gleeful cheer as she nodded vigorously. “I just hope she is awake, last time I saw her she was sleeping.”

Behind the old pony a door swung open as a nurse left the room, the door was marked big with the letters ‘3-B’. Cheerilee stopped the nurse as she walked past them. “Is the patient in 3-B awake? I have a filly here who is very eager to see her mother again.”

The nurse smiled as she nodded. “Yes, she just woke up.”

As the nurse hurried away they made their way towards the door, Cheerilee ruffled Dinky’s mane and smiled towards her. “Why don’t you open the door and greet your Mom?”

Dinky stretched her hoof as long as she could, barely reaching up enough to pull the handle down. The door creaked as it got pushed open, Dinky leaped in while she yelled. “Mommy!”

Cheerilee followed shortly after, slowly pushing the door a little more to the side. The walls had a pearl white color, with fake tiles as floor. Two windows with thin blue curtains casted the room in a dim blue light. In the middle she saw Dinky sitting in her mothers bed, waving her arms around starting to explain how she had saved the day with only a little help from Cheerilee.

“When you got sick, I knew exactly what to do!”

The gray mare smiled towards her daughter as she choked back the wavering in her voice. “Thats great, then, I guess you’re my superhero.”

Dinky nodded eagerly. “Yes! You can always count on me, Mommy.”

Ditzy’s smile faded a little as she nodded. “That’s good to know.”

Ditzy’s golden eyes followed her daughter with joy, watching caringly as the small filly jumped up and down on her flank. She stretched her gray hooves out and embraced Dinky in her hooves, she smiled as she opened her eyes with tears welling up in them.

The small filly squeaked as she got squeezed tightly. “What’s wrong, Mommy?”

The gray mare sobbed as she held her daughter. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.”

Dinky wriggled out of her mother's grip, sitting still on her lap. “Lost me? What do you mean, Mommy?”

Ditzy shook her head while wiping away a tear. “Nevermind that, Dinky. I’m just so happy to see you again.”

Dinky jumped up as she grinned. “I’m your superhero, remember? I will always be here for you, Mommy.”

Ditzy Embraced her daughter, whispering softly in her ear. “I will always love you for who you are.”

The small filly kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you too, Mommy.”

Cheerilee stood still by the door, watching mother and daughter reunite. Her chest swelled up in a warm sensation, stretching out through her whole body, she could do nothing but smile in relief.

Ditzy stared right at Cheerilee with tears flowing freely down her cheek, she tilted her head down forcing her yellow mane to drape over her eyes as her body shook in tact with her sobs. She smiled warmly towards her, softly saying. “Thank you.”

Dinky shifted out of her mother’s embrace, squiggling around on the bed sheets while looking at her mother with a constipated look. “Mommy! I gotta tinkle!”

Cheerilee let go of a small giggle. “Come here, Dinky. Let’s find somepony who knows where the bathroom is.”

Dinky slowly descended from the bed and made her way towards the door, before she left the room she turned her head towards her mother. Her eyes turned towards Cheerilee as her brows arched down.

Cheerilee softly placed her hoof on Dinky’s head. “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to your mother while you’re in the bathroom.”

The cerise mare stopped a passing nurse, gently pushing Dinky through the door. “Could you please take her to the bathroom?”

The nurse was about to object as she saw Cheerilee’s frown, she stuttered forth. “O-of course, I will bring her back in a bit.”

Cheerilee smiled as she watched Dinky skip her way over the tiles laughing as she almost fumbled her hooves. She let go of a long outdrawn sigh before she went in to Ditzy again.

She made her way over to the bed, sitting down next to Ditzy, who sobbed as she stared at her hooves.

She bit her lip as she turned towards Cheerilee, looking at her while taking a deep breath. Her voice was hoarse as it wavered. “How... could I?”

Cheerilee placed the letter in Ditzy’s lap before she grabbed one of her hooves and held it tightly. “Because you tried to do it all on your own, there is only so much a pony can handle before it goes too far.”

She halted her thoughts for a short time before she spoke with a cracked voice. “I-I read the letter... why didn’t you deliver it to your father? He’s bound to understand once he reads it.”

Ditzy stared at Cheerilee with empty eyes. “I did.”

“You did?”

She slowly nodded. “Yes... a few days after I found it in my mailbox, opened...” A tear fell from her cheek as she clenched her teeth together. “He read it... but he does not care for me or my daughter.”

Cheerilee swallowed as her eyes welled up. “But... your father...”

Ditzy shook her head as she pulled her hoof away from Cheerilee. “He will never understand... and because of it, I almost... made my daughter live through what I have... the pain of losing somepony, dealing with it all alone... she would not have understood why... how could I?”

Cheerilee’s bright green eyes stared at Ditzy as they welled up, she swallowed, battling so her voice wouldn't break. “Then use this second chance to make it up to your daughter, give her what she deserves.” She stopped before she placed a hoof on Ditzy’s shoulder. “And if your father don’t want to be part off it, I would like to take his place, in any way I can, as a friend.”

Ditzy stared at Cheerilee as she tried wiping away her tears, before she whispered. “Why?”

Cheerilee smiled warmly while a tear ran down her cheek. “Because I don’t want anypony to be sad, and... while I can never truly understand what you have gone through... I can at least try.”

Ditzy’s eyes welled up as she embraced Cheerilee. “Thank you.”

Cheerilee smiled as she brushed away a tear. “Your daughter is truly a miracle, the time I spent with her today made me think. It made me think how it would be having something I can never get.”

The gray mare looked at Cheerilee with questioning eyes. “You mean... you can’t?”

Cheerilee slowly nodded before she answered with a choked voice. “I can’t bear child.” She took a deep breath before she continued. “You have something special, you along with many other mares, so make sure you do right by her.”

Ditzy sat silently staring at her daughter's teacher before she stuttered. “But... your job... how... how do you do it?”

Cheerilee tilted her head a little to the side as she smiled. “Even if I can’t experience it, does not mean I can’t pretend sometimes, or take joy seeing others with their foals.”

The door creaked open as Dinky leaped into the room, jumping up into her mother’s lap, greeting them both with a huge grin.

Cheerilee stood up as she ruffled Dinky’s mane. “Thank you for today, Dinky. I trust you to watch over your mother, you think you can handle that?”

Dinky pushed forth a pout. “Of course, I’m her superhero!”

Cheerilee made her way to the door while smiling towards Dinky. “That’s good to hear.” As she opened the door, she stopped and looked at Ditzy. “Do come and visit anytime you want, my door is always open.”

Dinky turned towards her mother as the door shut after Cheerilee, asking as her voice squeaked. “Are we going to visit Cheerilee?”

Ditzy smiled as she nodded. “Yes, Mommy made a friend.”

Dinky jumped around her mother’s neck, laughingly letting out a big cheer. “That’s good, I like Cheerilee, she’s nice to us.”

Ditzy nodded as she held her daughter in her hooves while she looked out the window and spotted Cheerilee. The cerise mare stood outside talking to one of her students together with his mother, smiling as she patted the foal on the head, nodding agreeingly with the other mare.

She saw Cheerilee wave goodbye to them as they wandered off, her smile faded as she looked down, staring longingly at the mother and foal. She turned around and started to walk the long way home in solitude.

Ditzy felt a tear running down her cheek as she enclosed her hooves around Dinky and whispered. “I will never leave you again...”