Berry Punch took the letter back, and re-read the words again. A complex cocktail of emotions was welling up in her chest. Did the room always spin like that? She blinked rapidly, and her breath came in batches.

“Berry Punch, I—we don’t know the context behind this.” Even Minuette’s voice wavered. “Hey, breath, okay? Take one breath at a time.”

Berry Punch couldn’t listen. Her mind was stuck on the name at the bottom of the page. Roseluck. The whole letter was in her flowery script. This doesn’t make sense. She said she was away on business.

“Minuette,” she took a breath, “I need to be alone.”

Minuette looked unsure.

“I don’t know if—”

“Please, let me be alone. I’ll be fine.” Her breath was starting to come back to her. Her thinking was still clouded, but she had an idea at least. Ask her when she comes home later today. She sunk her thoughts into a cage. For now at least.

Minuette nodded and left without another word. Although, the apprehensive glance Minuette threw her way said more than words could.

She couldn’t stay here. She grabbed her scarf and made her way to the train station. Sitting on the bench, she watched as the evening passengers got off the train. No Roseluck.

Berry Punch sat on a nearby bench, trying not to let her thoughts spiral.

Roseluck didn’t come back home that night.

Berry Punch woke up to knocking on her door. She yawned as she got off the couch. As soon as her hooves hit the carpet what she read last night hit her. Immediately her mood soured. She didn’t know what would happen when Roseluck came back.

She made her way to the door an pulled it opened.

A sudden embrace and peck on the cheek told her who it was.

“I’m so sorry! There were so many problems to deal with, than the kids I were watching stole something from a shop. Little rascals. I had to clear that up with the police. Anyway, I know I missed your exhibit so where’s your painting?”

Berry Punch had gotten her painting yesterday on her way home from the train station, but that wasn’t what was on her mind. She had thought over what to say, had practiced it, refined it and thought over it again. All of it crumbled to dust.

“Who’s Paisley?”

“Paisley...?” Roseluck asked, confused. “From Canterlot? How’d you know about her?”

Berry Punch blanked out anything Roseluck was saying.

“You stayed an extra day for her.” Berry Punch almost didn’t register that she spoke. Her mind was drowning in thoughts. One after the other, droplets of accusations, anger, and sadness. “Right?”

“Where’s this coming from?” Roseluck looked concerned. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

Berry Punch snatched the letter off the table and almost threw it at her.

“This.”

Roseluck took the letter slowly, and read over the words. Her eyes widened as she got to the bottom.

“This isn’t the letter I sent. The words aren’t right.” Roseluck looked up at Berry Punch. “I didn’t write this.” Her brow furrowed. “Wait, how did you get this?” Roseluck’s eyes widened. “Did you go through my mail?”

“I didn’t have to. It was delivered to me. I didn’t know who it was from, so I opened it.” Berry Punch flicked her tail in agitation. “So, who is she?”

“There’s nothing going on between us, Berry Punch. I’m serious.” Roseluck kept looking back at the letter in disbelief. “I didn’t write this.”

“Who else? Who else writes with your hoofwriting?”

“I—I don’t know. But I didn’t write this letter.”

“Get out.”

Roseluck looked like she had been slapped.

“Berry Punch, please we can talk about this.”

“What is there to talk about?” Berry Punch said bitterly. “About how stupid I was? About how I thought things would be different, but I ended up at the same place before?”

“No, I would never do that to you.” Roseluck said the words with conviction, and her eyes held nothing but worry. “I don’t know how this,” she held up the letter, “happened, but we can work through it together.”

Berry Punch wanted to fall into the comfort of her words, but she was too upset. She didn’t know how to rationalize the letter or its contents. It felt an awful lot like a situation she was in back in college. She closed her eyes.

“Get out.”

Roseluck shrank back at the words, and tears brimmed in her eyes.

“Okay.”

Berry Punch felt her heart shatter into pieces as she walked out the door.

She needed something to clear her head. She made her way to the kitchen. Roseluck had helped her get rid of all of her alcohol. Or almost all. Berry Punch popped open the secret drawer in the counter. A single bottle of Cherry Twine whiskey sat unassuming in the drawer. She had consoled herself by saying she would eventually get rid of them. I guess Roseluck wasn’t the only one who was lying.

She took the bottle and a glass into the living room. She set the two down, and poured a shot. She looked over the brown liquid in the glass. She reached forwards before retracting her hoof again. There was some hesitation, but it was eroding away by the second. It was scary how fast she had sunk into her old routine.

She drank the shot. A warm feeling spread through her body. She drank another shot. The warm feeling spread further. The memories of the past year seemed like a dream. A brief delusion interrupted by stark reality. There’s no getting out of this for me.

She felt the floor sink as she fell deeper into her own head. What do I do now? I still have Minuette as a friend, Pinkie Pie too. Without Roseluck there was a hole in her heart which she wasn’t sure would ever mend.

She poured another shot.

A knock sounded at the door.

She didn’t even look up.

“Go away.”

“Berry Punch, it’s me.” Paint Spots voice sounded through the door. She looked up in surprise, and a prickling sense of suspicion welled up alongside it.

She cautiously made her way to the door.

“What do you want?”

“To talk. About us.” The wording was not what she wanted to hear right now.

“There’s no us.”

“What are you talking about?” Paint Spots sounded genuinely confused. “I know you needed your space so you left our apartment, I get that. I thought you would be back in a year after you cleared your head, but you weren’t. So I went looking for you.”

Berry Punch couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her heart dropped.

“You looked for me?”

“Yes. Eventually, I remembered your parents and followed the mail trail to your new house. It took a long time, but I finally found you last summer. Then when you left for Manehattan, I was on the train, but couldn’t find a time to talk to you. I only got a chance when you went to the bar, but that didn’t go well.”

Each word only made Berry Punch more and more scared.

“Are you still there?”

“Yes.”

“We could talk more comfortably if you let me inside.”

“No. I’m fine like this.”

“Okay. I’m serious about us, you know? It’s not the same with Roseluck. That’s temporary. This is permanent. Why didn’t you come back?”

“You hit me. I can’t come back to that. I had to get away.” Berry Punch didn’t know what else to say. Paint Spots was acting strange.

“I know, I made a mistake, but we could have worked through it. You didn’t have to leave over it. That hurt.” There was an edge in her voice. “Why do you still like her? She doesn’t know you like I do.”

Bringing up Roseluck only put her in a worse mood.

“Look, Paint Spots, it’s over, okay? Can you please leave me alone?” She hoped she would listen to that at least.

A loud bang shook her violently out of her thought process.

“Let me in.”

Berry Punch was still processing the sound Paint Spots’ hoof made. A distinct feeling of fear welled up. What’s happening? Everything seemed wobbly. Looking down, she realized she was shaking. She took a breath.

“I… no.” She braced herself against the door. “Never again.”

Paint Spots was silent for a moment.

“You’re making a mistake. I did this for you.” There was an uncharacteristic note of desperation in her voice. “Why can’t you see that?” Did what for me? The moment the thought crossed her mind she looked over at the envelope. The lettering. Now she knew why the hoofwriting looked familiar, it was Paint Spots. She didn’t know how she had got the letter or if what the letter said was even true.

Idiot! Idiot, idiot… why didn’t I think? Another thought occurred to her. She’s been reading my mail. Did she do the same with Roseluck? The uncomfortable thought wouldn’t leave. Berry Punch felt sick. She knew Paint Spots was possessive, but never did she imagine she would go this far.

“You hurt me. You keep hurting me. You won’t leave me alone. Why can’t you see that?” Berry Punch wasn’t sure what Paint Spots would try next, and her nerves weren’t helping. She tried not to think what would happen if she forced the door.

“I can’t hurt you.” The conviction in her voice was absolute. “I love you too much.”

Berry Punch was stunned. She knew back in college Paint Spots was possessive to an extent. Enough to leave early in the morning without a word. This was beyond mild possessiveness, this was an obsession. The realization hit her like a sack of bricks. Paint Spots would never leave her alone. In her mind this was normal.

Now Berry Punch was alone. The only thing between her and Paint Spots was a door, and not a sturdy one either.

“Berry Punch?”

This wasn’t something Paint Spots would let go, that much was clear to her. She eyed the door to her painting room. The window. The only other way out of this place.

“Are you ignoring me?”

Keep her calm.

“No. What do you want?”

“For you to leave with me. I’m sorry if you think I hurt you. I’ll make it up to you.”

Berry Punch carefully made her way to her art room. She raised her voice.

“I don’t know if you can.”

“I can. We can work through everything together. No more running away. We can work it out now if you let me in.”

She opened the painting room door as quietly as possible.

“Tell me how. Explain.”

Paint Spots started to weave another long lie as Berry Punch used the time to open the window and escape.

Once her hooves were on the grass she ran straight to Roseluck’s backyard. The rough branches of the bushes left scratches on her as she passed through. She tested the handle before entering her house. Truthfully she didn’t know if Roseluck was even home, but Minuette was too far in town.

She closed the door and slid back against the frame in relief. She looked at the ceiling and wondered what to do next.

“Berry Punch?”

Roseluck’s voice was a splash of sunshine on a rainy day.

She rushed up and embraced her. She felt Roseluck push her away. The push was gentle, but firm. Roseluck’s snout twitched.

“Were you drinking?” Berry Punch wilted. She had forgotten about that. She shook away her guilt. Paint Spots first.

“Roseluck, I’m sorry, not just for that, but—”

“Berry Punch…” Roseluck closed her eyes. For the first time, Berry Punch noticed Roseluck’s mane was unkempt. Her eyes had bags under them, and it looked like she had been crying. “Please leave. I need some time.”

“I need help.” Berry Punch rushed the words out of her mouth before Roseluck could say anything. “Look, Paint Spots came over to my house today. She’s still there. She won’t leave. I told her to go, but she won’t. Then I saw her hoof writing on the envelope, and everything clicked. I had to leave my house through the back window. I know I screwed up, I promise to make it up to you.” Berry Punch went to look away, but wrenched her gaze back to Roseluck. She needed to say this facing her.

“I love you, so much. I know an apology isn’t enough; I made an assumption, when I should have been thinking clearer. What I’m trying to say is: I bucked up, and I’m sorry.”

Roseluck’s face was a mix of emotions. Berry Punch didn’t know what would happen next. The uncertainty scared her more than anything. She didn’t know whether she would lose the mare she loved again, for good this time.

“Come here.” The words were an invitation, not a command.

Berry Punch approached only to be met with a hug.

“I accept your apology. I know somepony messed with the letter. It’s why your words didn’t hurt as much. You thought I did something behind your back with another mare. The lack of trust hurt more. Smelling alcohol on your breath hurts more.” She sighed. “We’re going to talk more after this. Paint Spots took advantage of the fact you didn’t know about Paisley. I’ll explain everything, but for now we need to deal with her.”

Berry Punch sniffled and nodded.

“Okay.”

Roseluck squeezed her tight before she let go.

“I’m going to the police. Then they’ll go to your house. What she did in Manehattan was bad, but this is stalking. I’ll be back soon, okay?”

“I’m not going with you?”

Roseluck shook her head.

“I don’t know what Paint Spots is willing to do if she sees you, so this is safer.”

“What if she comes here?”

“You won’t be alone. Minuette’s in the kitchen.”

Berry Punch blinked.

“She is?”

Roseluck nodded.

“She tried to cheer me up after our argument. She was down here, but when you came through the door, she went away to let us talk.” Roseluck walked to the bottom of the stairs. “Minuette! You can come out now.”

Minuette appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. She looked between the two anxiously.

“Are things okay between you guys?”

Both Roseluck and Berry Punch nodded. We’ll talk through the remainder after Paint Spots is dealt with.

A small smile appeared of Minuette’s face.

“I had a feeling you guys would work it out.”

“Could you stay here with Berry Punch, I need to go to the police station.”

Minuette looked concerned.

“What for?"

Roseluck brought Minuette up to speed.

“Not a problem, Roseluck.”

Minuette turned to Berry Punch.

“We can talk about it if you want to.”

“I’d like that.”

--[000000]--

The moment Roseluck left the vicinity of her house she felt like she was being watched. The uneasy feeling didn’t leave as she entered the square and went down a small side road. She heard some hoof steps behind her, but didn’t get time to register them.

Roseluck felt something collide with her and push her into the wall.

“She doesn’t understand. You. Are. Temporary.” Paint Spots. The mare enunciated each word. Roseluck didn’t have time to respond before the first punch hit her. “Where is she? Where did you take her?”

Roseluck pushed her off.

Paint Spots stumbled back.

She stood her ground, and kept an eye on Paint Spots’ movements.

“I didn’t take her anywhere. She ran away from you. Why can’t you get that?”

“You don’t understand. She’s everything to me.” Paint Spots let out a frustrated growl. “No one understands how far I’ve gone to find her. Now she’s here. I’m this close to getting her back, but you just won’t get out of the way.”

Roseluck looked for any ounce of insincerity in her words, but could find none. She really believes herself.

“So, get out of my way.” Paint Spots’ horn charged up and spat out concentrated magical energy. Roseluck barely escaped with minor burns to her tail. Paint Spots continued to try and hit her with magic, but Roseluck could see it was wearing her out.

By this point other ponies noticed what was happening in the alleyway and had called for help.

Roseluck wasn’t a fighter, but neither was Paint Spots. She just had to use her natural strength to her advantage. The moment Paint Spots took a moment for a breath, Roseluck tackled her to the ground.

Paint Spots’ writhed in her grasp, sparks emitting from her horn as she tried and failed to cast a spell. Eventually she settled for pulling at Roseluck mane, hard. Roseluck cried out in pain, but held her grip.

Roseluck felt another pony pull her off Paint Spots, and watched a police officer pull Paint Spots back as she got up and tried to go after Roseluck.

“This is your fault!” Paint Spots spat at her. “If you would have minded your bucking business and left her alone things would have been fine!” She continued to struggle in the officer’s grasp. “Let me go!”

“I can’t do that—hey, calm down!” The mare looked to her partner. “Do you have a nullification ring?”

“I do.” He looked at Roseluck. “Are you fine? You’re not going to do anything, right?”

Roseluck shook her head.

“She attacked me. I was making my way to the police office to report her.”

The stallion nodded.

“I’ll get a statement from you in a moment.” He floated out a silver ring with iron bands and slipped it over Paint Spots’ horn. The sparks stopped immediately. “Okay.” He pulled out a pen and pad of paper.

“What happened here?”

“Like I said she attacked me while I was walking through the alleyway. I was going to report her for stalking my marefriend and messing with my mail.”

“Do you know how long she’s been stalking her?”

Roseluck shook her head. “No, you’d have to ask Berry Punch about that. She would know more than me.”

“Okay, I—”

“Stop struggling!”

“Let me go! Now!” While she didn’t have her magic, Paint Spots was actively trying to wiggle out of the policemare’s grasp.

“Cuffs! I need some help over here!”

“I’ll be there in a second. Roseluck, right? Can I get your address for a follow up?”

Roseluck told him, and he quickly scribbled it down.

“Alright, we’ll be there once we deal with her.” Cuffs went to help his partner.

Roseluck watched them drag Paint Spots away. The satisfaction was limited, since she had a difficult conversation ahead of her once she got home.

---[000000]--

“How did this start?”

Roseluck had just left, leaving Berry Punch and Minuette alone in the living room. Minuette had made some tea which Berry Punch was currently sipping to give her time to think.

“Everything was fine yesterday, then Paint Spots showed up at my job.” She sighed. “It wasn’t much, but she said Roseluck would be late. I tried not to let it bother me much, since her words shouldn’t have meant anything. Then she got on my nerves at the art festival.” She sat back and rubbed her forehead. “It’s hard to think right now.”

“Do you want some water?”

Berry Punch nodded.

“The tea’s nice, but water sounds good right now.”

The sound of running water echoed from the kitchen then stopped. Minuette reappeared and placed the cup down.

Berry Punch took a long draw from the cup. Twice now, I’ve had a friend sit across from me after having a drink. Berry Punch almost laughed how familiar the scene was. She would’ve too if the conversation was light. She thought for a moment. To Tartarus with it. She let out a disjointed laugh. Minuette stared in concern, but Berry Punch waved her off. It’s nice not to focus on Paint Spots for a moment.

“It’s okay, just some deja vu.” Berry Punch pointed at Minuette. “A couple months ago it was Roseluck sitting there looking at me like that. I hope this isn’t going to be a pattern.” Berry Punch looked down at the ripples in the water. “Again.”

“Anyway, you know this part. Roseluck wasn’t at her house, and then I read that letter. As for what happened after that. I tried to distract myself. To keep my thoughts was spiraling down, but it was hard. I ended up waiting at the train station, but she didn’t show.

“Next day, she knocks on my door, and I asked her who that mare was. She wasn’t real, right? Maybe the letter was a mistake? But, no, Paisley was real.” Guilt crossed Berry Punch’s face. “I just ran with my assumptions. I didn’t give her a chance to answer properly. I...”

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Minuette’s support was appreciated, but Berry Punch couldn’t let this sit.

“It’s fine, I’m fine. I lost my temper and told her to leave. Twice. Then I really spiraled.” Berry Punch took a breath. In. Out. In and Out. “I took out a bottle I hid from her.”

At this Minuette let out a gasp.

“I thought you guys got rid of every one of them? Why did you…?”

“I don’t know. I thought I could get rid of it myself, but I could never do it. Things are hazy after that. I remember feeling angry, sad, and tired. My own little pity party. Then Paint Spots had to crash it and make it even worse. I didn’t know why she was there at first, but she laid out her cards fairly clearly. She thought we were still together in some twisted sense. How she got to that conclusion, I’ll never know. I kept her talking until I could escape through the back window. You know the rest.”

Minuette digested the information.

“All that matters now is how you talk to Roseluck about it. Paint Spots doesn’t matter all that much. The police will handle her. But, Roseluck? That’s on you.”

Berry Punch groaned and leaned back on the couch.

“I know. I know that rushed apology won’t cut it. I want to try, but what if she hates me for what I did? I lied to her, and she still helped me with Paint Spots.”

Minuette shrugged. “I doubt she hates you. She might be upset, but hate is a strong emotion.” She smiled. “Be honest with her, and don’t leave any details out, okay?” She put a hood on Berry Punch’s shoulder. “This is just a bump in the road, y’know?”

Berry Punch mirrored her smile. “Speaking from experience?”

Minuette’s expression turned to mock horror.

“Nope! Romance is not for me. Doesn’t mean I can’t cheer on from the sidelines.”

They both shared a laugh. The sun shined brighter into the room at the sound.

“I’ll let you think about it.” Minuette hugged Berry Punch. “Clean yourself up, clear your mind, and stay honest with her. I have a feeling this’ll work out.”

“Okay.” Berry Punch nodded to herself. “Okay. I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be out after I’m done.”

“There you go! Nothing like a nice shower to clear your head.”

Berry Punch sniffed her coat. Blegh, I do smell.
She walked to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and hopped inside. She let her negative thoughts drip off her and down the drain. By the end she felt nervous, but energized. The full weight of what she accused her marefriend of bore down on her withers.

She brushed her mane and tail while her mind went over how the conversation would go. Does she even want to see me? Should I wait? She chewed on the thought before tossing it. The longer I wait the worse this gets. When she gets back, we’ll talk.

She nodded to herself as she stepped out of the bathroom. Berry Punch could hear faint conversation from the kitchen. She recognized both Minuette and Roseluck were the ones talking. She didn’t expect to see what Roseluck looked like as she turned the corner.

Her mane was ruffled, her tail was singed at the end, and a bruise was on her cheek.

All her carefully crafted words crumbled to dust. She rushed up and inspected the bruise herself.

“Who hurt you? Are you okay?”

Minuette sidled her way out of the room.

“I’m fine.” Roseluck eyed her tail. “My tail got the worst of it, the ends will have to be cut off, but otherwise I’m no worse for wear.”

Berry Punch back off, but looked her in the eye. “Who did this?”

“Paint Spots. She must’ve followed me when I left my house.”

“Is she…?” Arrested? The thought seemed almost to good to be true.

Roseluck must have caught the implication because she nodded.

“Yes, they arrested her for that.”

Berry Punch sighed in relief, but even as the relief washed over her she knew she still had to talk to Roseluck.

“Look, I’m sorry about how I reacted. I thought you...” she hesitated on the word, “...cheated… on me. I should’ve trusted you more. I made an assumption and ran with it. And, I hid something from you. A bottle of alcohol.” Berry Punch’s ears flicked down despondently.

“You drank again?” There was a note of disappointment in Roseluck’s voice. Berry Punch swallowed thickly.

“Yeah, do you remember when you helped get rid of all my alcohol?”

Roseluck nodded.

“It wasn’t all of it. I… had a bottle hidden in a secret drawer in my kitchen. I decided not to tell you about it. I thought I could get rid of it by myself, but I just couldn’t.”

Roseluck sagged.

“So, after our argument you took it out?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

The two mares sat quietly for a moment. Roseluck had an unreadable expression on her face.

“I’m not going to lie, Berry Punch. That hurts to hear. The fact you hid that from me, after we agreed to work through it together. I don’t know. I’m glad you told me at least.”

Berry Punch wilted.

“I should’ve told you sooner. I want to make this work, but I know I can’t lie about things like that. Moving forward, I’ll be honest. I promise you, no, I Pinkie Promise you.” Berry Punch went through the motions. “We can take another trip to the NA group in Canterlot.” She reached out to Roseluck’s hoof. Roseluck didn’t retract it. “I love you.”

Roseluck closed her eyes for a moment.

“I love you too, but going forwards I can’t have you lie to me like that again. I just can’t have somepony like that in my life.”

Berry Punch couldn’t agree more. Between Paint Spots’ meddling and her dip back into alcohol it almost cost her this relationship.

Berry Punch nodded.

“I promise.”

Roseluck seemed satisfied, even if the previous conversation topic lingered over both of them.

“Speaking of the truth. You should know about Paisley.” Roseluck took a breath. “I should have told you sooner. She’s a business partner with my parents. Normally they would go up there, but lately it’s been me. She’s an older mare with two adopted kids, but no significant other.” Roseluck seemed to mull something over. “In fact, when we go up for your next NA meeting you can meet here, if you want.”

“I wouldn’t mind.”

“Okay, is there anything you want me to explain?”

“The letter, you said you didn’t write it, but how did it get that way?”

“Oh! One moment.” Roseluck rushed out of the room. A moment later she returned with a letter. “I keep copies of any business mail I receive or send out. This is the one Paint Spots tampered with. The original.”

Berry Punch opened the letter.

Dear Paisley,

I’m sorry, it’s been awhile, but I finally read your letter. I didn’t expect there to be so many problems setting up a new shop. Honestly, it’s my fault, my parents don’t have the time to dedicate to this. I’m going to make it up to you since you’ve put up with so many issues! Honestly, I’m planning a trip up to Canterlot to help sort this all out. Plus it’d be nice to see your foals again (they’re such an adventurous pair, even if it gets them into trouble), and I’m sure they miss their honorary aunt. One of these days I’ll bring Berry Punch up to meet them too, but she’s focused on her art festival project and I don’t want to detract from that. Anyway, I’m sure we can work on this zoning thing when I get there.

From,

Roseluck

Berry Punch looked up from the letter. She couldn’t believe how much Paint Spots cut out and re-worded.

“I was going up there to help clear up a minor building dispute with the city. We’re working on an expansion to the store up in Canterlot. That’s why I was there. My parents, specifically my dad, can’t make the trip anymore and my mom doesn’t want to leave him behind.”

"And, why were you late? I’m not accusing you of anything, I just want to know.”

“Oh, that, um.” Roseluck shuffled in embarrassment. “I was supposed to watch her kids while she checked on on the shop. They’re too smart for their own good. Let’s just say the guards were not happy with my explanation that the foals I was watching had stolen various ship items when I wasn’t looking. Or more accurately when one of them deliberately distracted me while the other nicked a couple shop items. It delayed me getting back while the issue was sorted out.”

“Now,” Roseluck turned stern, “I know we talked about it, but the about the alcohol you hid from me.”

“It’s all gone!” Berry Punch quickly preempted the question Because I drank most of it. She thought to herself guiltily. Roseluck’s tail swished.

“I would like to believe you, but considering what you admitted I want to make sure this time.” Roseluck’s voice took on a softer tone as she continued, “I care about you, and I want you to get better. I wouldn’t be a good marefriend otherwise.”

Berry Punch hung her head. “Okay.”

Roseluck put a hoof on Berry Punch’s withers.

“I promise this won’t be an everyday thing. I’m not going to snoop through all your private stuff. All I’m going to look for is alcohol. I won’t do it without you either, so you’re going to be there the whole time.”

Berry Punch felt a little better if she was going to be there the whole time.

“We’ll work through it together, right?”

“Together,” Roseluck confirmed.

Despite the whirlwind of the past two days, Berry Punch found it in herself to believe it.

Author's Note

Posting this away from home, please forgive any formatting wonkiness. I'm fixing it tonight when I get back. As usual, leave any thoughts and corrections in the comments below!