WARN: Binge drinking

FIVE MONTHS AGO

Twilight Sparkle and Timber Spruce walked down the aisles of the hardware store to the paint department. They had made a special run to pick out just the right color for the nursery. About four months pregnant with twins, Twilight happily scanned the rows of paint sample cards. She took a few of those that seemed particularly interesting and held them up for Timber to see.

"Neutral colors?" Timber asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes! Rarity told me that you can do quite a lot with neutrals!" Twilight responded.

"Isn't Rarity into clothes?" Timber questioned.

"Yeah, but she said the same thing applies to interior design," Twilight replied.

Timber chuckled. "I trust Rarity's visual judgment, but that doesn't explain why the nursery walls should be…uh…Eggshell or Royal Beige."

Twilight lowered the paint sample sheets and adjusted her glasses. "Because, Timber, newborns wouldn't care about the color of the room." She began. "A baby's brain is not yet fully developed, and they are incapable of seeing any single color right at the start. It is only at around three to four months that they can see more vivid colors, but they never think about which color is for a boy or girl. That’s cultural.” She smiled at him. “The thing that would be most important is that we provide a warm and playful environment with nurturing and soft stimuli that would help them in their emotional and cognitive development."

Taking both of Twilight's hands in his, Timber grinned. "Ya know, when I was really young, I wanted a pink room."

Twilight laughed, shaking her head. "No, you didn't!"

"I so did! Ask Gloriosa!" Timber persisted, smirking.

Twilight giggled then smiled softly. She gently placed her hands on her small belly, where the babies were growing inside. "I'm so excited to meet them, Timber. I just can't wait to hold them in my arms."

"Neither can I." Timber replied in a gentle tone.

"Next customer!" called a hardware store worker in his cheery customer service voice.

Timber turned and walked up to the counter, holding his wife's hands. "We'll get samples of Eggshell and Royal Beige, please."

PRESENT DAY

The sun has risen far above the horizon, and it was a bright, warm summer day. The birds were chirping in the trees outside as one distant neighbor was mowing his lawn. Timber Spruce parked his car in the driveway of his home and stared dejected out of the windshield.

At that very moment, the full reality hit Timber like a punch to the gut. Twilight Sparkle was GONE. Forever. The woman who died this morning was a beloved sister and daughter. She was a friend of many. A brilliant scientist with goals and aspirations who worked in a government laboratory. She was his wife, and just a few hours ago, became the mother of two new lives. Twilight was loved by many, so why was it fair for her life to abruptly end?

Right there in the car, Timber broke. It was a very rare and harrowing sight, one that takes much to do by a grown man. He gripped the steering wheel tightly and let out a raw scream that filled the enclosed space of his car. The rest of the world just faded away, and for that moment, Timber was alone with his grief—a man utterly shattered within the confinement of his vehicle.

It was about fifteen minutes before Timber had nothing more to give. The pouring out of the grief had become exhausting to him. He hadn't slept at all that night and now felt tired. But the shock caused by the news of Twilight's death had kept him wide awake—a rather mean cycle of exhaustion and heartbreak. His eyes were a bloodshot red standing out against the dark circles formed under them. Right there, in the driver’s seat of his car, Timber fell asleep.

3PM

Timber was woken up by the sound of slapping on the driver's window. He came to, realizing the car's interior was sweltering hot, his clothes and forehead soaked with sweat. As he fully regained consciousness, he spotted his sister, Gloriosa Daisy, standing outside with a look of immense concern on her face.

Timber opened the car door and met her gaze. Gloriosa immediately spoke, her voice filled with worry, "Timber! I've been trying to contact you all day! No one has heard from you or Twilight since she went into labor yesterday."

Timber stared at his sister, the events of the past day coming back to him. Twilight was sitting on the couch in the living room, peacefully watching a new documentary that had just come out. Then, she went into labor when she got up to wash her hands. Then, Timber rushed her to the hospital. Everything seemed fine at first, but then the memories flooded in: her look of agony, her cries, the blood pooling beneath her, the shrill cries of the two newborns, being escorted out of the room, and then being informed that she had passed. The realization hit him again like a ton of bricks: Twilight is dead.

Gloriosa’s heart pounded in her chest. She saw the expression on Timber’s face—a look of sorrow and dread she had witnessed long ago, when they had lost their parents. Her own dread grew as she hoped that things were not as grim as they seemed.

“What’s wrong?” Gloriosa’s voice trembled. “ How’s Twilight?”

The silence stretched between them, unbearable and heavy. Timber could only stare at her, not knowing how to answer. Telling her, or anyone, what happened early this morning would make things more real than he wanted them to be.

“The twins?” Gloriosa pressed on. “How are they?”

“Healthy…” Timber whimpered. “A girl and a boy…”

“And… Twilight?” Gloriosa’s voice rose with concern.

“Gone…” Timber responded.

The words hit Gloriosa with a brutal force. Her entire body froze as she was barely able to comprehend what her brother had just informed her. She stood there, a figure of utter devastation, as the weight of Timber’s grief and the reality of Twilight’s death crashed over her.

Timber stepped out of the car, his voice barely above a whisper as he said, "I need to be alone right now." He didn't wait for Gloriosa's response, just walked towards the door, his shoulders slumped.

Gloriosa called after him, "Timber, what about—"

"Please..." Timber cut her off, his tone filled with pain.

He went to the door, punched in his passcode, and the lock clicked. He pushed open the door to the familiar view of their home. Everything was precisely the same as when they had left 24 hours earlier—clean, neat, and orderly. The sight felt like a cruel reminder of the life that had been so suddenly torn apart. Yesterday morning, everything was normal. Twilight was here, alive and happy, watching a new documentary on ocean life. Now, she’s just a memory.

Timber heard footsteps behind him and did not need to turn to know it was Gloriosa. He had told her to leave him alone, but his sister wouldn't ever leave him alone; besides, she was the only family left with him, and in such moments, her presence was a comfort.

He collapsed onto the sofa, finally surrendering to the weight of his grief. He began to sob, raw and heart-wrenching. Gloriosa sat beside him without a word and laid a tender hand on his back. She didn't try to reassure him with vain words or tell him everything was going to be okay. There she just sat—a quiet, steady presence—supporting him while he wept.

8PM

Gloriosa stayed with her grieving brother for a few hours. Timber finally told her that he wanted to be alone, and he would be fine. Of course this was a white lie, but he faked it the best he could. It was getting late, and Gloriosa’s own family might be worried. With hesitation, Gloriosa left, leaving Timber alone.

When Gloriosa’s car pulled off, Timber thought of something he thought he’d never do. He DoorZapped a bottle of vodka from the nearby liquor store. He hasn’t consumed a drop of alcohol since he was 21, which was when he learned he was an alcoholic. When the alcohol arrived, he was hesitant to take his first shot.

“I shouldn’t do this…” he thought to himself. “Twilight would not be proud of me doing this…”

Timber sat at the kitchen table, the only illuminated spot in the dark house. The urge to drink gnawed at him. He knew the danger, but the grief was overwhelming. He poured a shot of vodka, hesitating for a moment before gulping it down. The burn was sharp, a fleeting relief that quickly gave way to guilt and shame.

The familiar warmth spread through him, offering a deceptive comfort. He poured another shot, feeling the pull of the addiction. The alcohol promised a temporary escape from his pain, a way to numb the crushing reality of his loss. Before he knew it, Timber found himself taking shot, after shot, after shot. He couldn’t stop himself from indulging in the poisonous beverage and now the tall bottle was now a quarter empty.

A FEW DAYS LATER

Timber spent the past few days locked away in the basement of his home. It was a fully finished basement, a large room with a sofa, coffee table, and treadmill. There was a large closet for storage, a small laundry room, a half bathroom, and all the way in the back, the mechanical room. The black out curtains casted over the small basement windows made the area dark. The entire basement was dark, still and quiet.

Timber couldn't bear to be in the rest of the house. The ghost of Twilight haunted him in every room. In the living room where they watched TV together. In the kitchen where they ate meals together. In the nursery where they had assembled and decorated together. And of course, their bedroom, where he could still feel her next to him, sound asleep.

Timber woke up feeling a massive hangover from his binge drinking the previous night. The basement was dark and smelled of laundry detergent from the laundry room. He was about to drift off back to sleep to avoid being awake, until he heard the doorbell ring. It rang repeatedly obnoxiously. Only one person he knew would do that. His sister.

Timber slowly got up, his head pounding from the hangover. He wobbled a bit, struggling to maintain his balance as he made his way up the stairs. Finally, he reached the front door, clutching his spinning head. Timber opened the door to find Gloriosa standing there, concern etched on her face.

"Timber! Why are you still asleep?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. "It's almost noon, and we need to get the twins from the hospital!"

Timber remained silent, avoiding her gaze.

Gloriosa sniffed the air, her expression shifting to one of shock. "Timber, were you drinking?!"

Timber did not respond, staring at his feet with guilt and shame.

"Timber! You can't be drinking!" Gloriosa's voice was a mixture of anger and concern.

Timber finally responded, his voice defensive, "I'm an adult, Gloriosa! Not a little boy. I can decide to drink or not drink."

Gloriosa's eyes narrowed, frustration boiling over. "You can't go down this hole again, Timber! You're an alcoholic! Think, Timber! This is a dark time, I get it, but you and Twilight brought two new lives into this world! They need you!"

Timber's eyes flashed with a sudden, raw pain. "You don't understand, Gloriosa!" he shouted, his voice cracking. "When I close my eyes, all I see is her expression in agony! All I can hear are her cries." He pulled out his hand, shaking slightly. "All I can feel is her tight grip on my hand!”

Gloriosa did even know what to say next. She knew her words would fall on deaf ears. “Timber…” she began, trying to think of what to say next. “Let's…just bring your children home. They deserve to be in their home, not in the nursery of a cold hospital with a bunch of strangers handling them… right?”

Timber looked down in defeat, the weight of his sister's words settling in. Despite everything that happened, despite the family's grief…the new lives should be home with their family.

This moment brought Gloriosa back to the days when they lost their parents. It was a miserable time, and she remembered how Timber had struggled then, too. He had faced many losses in his life, and this was yet another crushing blow.

"You should wash up first." Gloriosa said gently, noticing the scent of vodka lingering around him. "You reek of vodka."

***

The hospital was as cold and frigid as Timber remembered. The room was decorated with cheerful baby animals and rainbows, a bright and colorful space that contrasted Timber's somber mood. He sat across from the doctor, who held the discharge paperwork.

"Mr. Spruce, once again, I'm terribly sorry about your wife." the doctor began, his voice gentle yet clinical. “I know this must be a very difficult time for you, and her family.”

Timber stared down at the floor, unable to meet the doctor's eyes. The words barely registered, each one feeling like a dull blow.

"I have good news." the doctor continued, trying to find a silver lining. "The newborns are healthy. The girl weighs 5.7 lbs, and the boy weighs 6 lbs. They're both in good health, with strong heartbeats and no signs of complications. They also did excellent on their hearing tests. They’re latching onto the bottle well and are responsive to stimuli, which are all excellent signs for newborns."

Timber remained silent, the words washing over him without meaning. His sister, Gloriosa Daisy, tried to fill the silence.

"Oh, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, her voice strained with forced enthusiasm.

"We will provide you with some formula they drink. While you can find it in most drugstores, there's a formula shortage going on right now. So making sure the twins are fed might be a challenge.” The doctor continued. “From now until three months, feed them only this formula.”

Hearing that hit Timber, his attention now begins to drift away. The doctor's voice became a distant murmur, and Timber found himself lost in a sea of thoughts and emotions.

"Timber Spruce!" Gloriosa's voice jolted him back to reality. He looked up to see a nurse wheeling a bassinet into the room. Timber's breath caught in his throat. He knew what was in there, and the weight of it was almost too much to bear. He quickly buried his head in his hands.

"No..." he muttered, his voice cracking. The reality was overwhelming.

Gloriosa placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Timber... please try." she urged softly.

Taking a deep breath, Timber looked up and hesitated before slowly walking to the bassinet. There, swaddled and lying cheek to cheek, were his children. The two lives Twilight Sparkle brought into the world. The sight was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

"They are…squished together..." he observed quietly.

The nurse nodded. "They cry when placed in separate bassinets. Looks like you've got yourself a bonded pair."

"You need to name them." The doctor said gently.

"Huh?" Timber blinked.

"They weren't named," the doctor explained. "Do you have their names so we can process the paperwork for their birth certificates?"

Timber hesitated, his voice faltering. "Oh... I... Twilight and I were going to name them together..."

Timber stared at his sleeping children, feeling a mix of love and sorrow. He carefully lifted his daughter from the bassinet and held her very close in his arms. She was small and very fragile; he felt like he might break her. He cradled the baby gently to find her making those faint newborn sounds, her puffy eyelids opening to reveal bright green eyes.

Timber looked at her in the eyes as the thought of a name to give the baby girl. He wanted to name her after her mother. Timber thought about how Twilight was like a star in his eyes. Now, this baby girl, Twilight’s daughter, is his new star.

"Nova..." Timber whispered softly. "Nova Sparkle."

Gloriosa smiled warmly. "That’s a beautiful name!"

Timber carefully handed Nova to Gloriosa, who cradled her niece with gentle affection. "Hello, Nova," she whispered, her voice soft and warm. "Welcome to the world."

Nova looked around with her large, curious eyes, letting out a soft, quiet yawn. She squirmed slightly in her swaddle as she closed her eyes tightly.

Timber then turned his attention to his son. He gently lifted the baby boy, who was just as delicate and fragile as his sister. As the baby opened his eyes, his bright purple eyes were revealed, which closely resembled his mother's. Timber looked at his son, thinking carefully of a name for him. He also wanted the boy’s name to be in remembrance of Twilight.

"Dusk Light..." Timber muttered.

"Fits him perfectly!" Gloriosa agreed, smiling at her nephew.

The doctor nodded, satisfied. "Great. Let's fill out the paperwork, and we can get them discharged in no time."

While Timber filled out the paperwork, Gloriosa busied herself with dressing the twins in the outfits they had brought. The task hurt Gloriosa deeply, as she felt like she was stepping into Twilight’s place. But Twilight’s place was empty forever, and for now, Gloriosa had to fill that void.

She started with Nova, dressing her in a pink onesie adorned with tiny white stars. As Gloriosa gently guided Nova’s arms into the sleeves, the baby squirmed and whimpered, her tiny face scrunching up. She tried to gnaw on her little fingers, searching for comfort. Gloriosa managed to button the onesie and placed a soft pink hat on her head. She then offered Nova a pacifier, which the baby accepted eagerly, sucking on it contentedly as she curled up, her hands resting near her face. With care, Gloriosa fastened Nova safely in her car seat, making sure she was secure and comfortable.

Next, she turned to Dusk, who she dressed in a bright green onesie also decorated with stars. Like his sister, Dusk kicked and squirmed as Gloriosa dressed him. His fussing grew louder, not enjoying the sudden movement. Gloriosa gently dressed him and picked him up, cradling him in her arms to soothe him. She offered him a pacifier, and as he began to suck on it, his fussing subsided. With a gentle touch, Gloriosa fastened Dusk into his car seat, making sure he was snug and secure. The twins were now ready to finally go home.

***

As soon as the car pulled into the driveway, Timber jumped out, slamming the car door behind him. He rushed toward the house, his footsteps quick and heavy. Reality was too much for him right now, he needed to escape from it FAST.

"Timber! Where are you going? Aren't you going to bring any of the kids inside?" Gloriosa called out.

Timber ignored his sister, leaving her to handle the twins on her own. He quickly entered the passcode and swung the door open, getting a whiff of the lavender aroma that still lingered around the home. He quickly entered the kitchen, opened one of the cabinets, and pulled out a tall bottle of vodka. He poured himself a shot and gulped it down, sensing the burn in his throat as it gave him a quick moment of relief. Reality of the situation hit him hard: he was bringing his kids home without their mother. Instead, with their aunt—his sister. It felt so wrong, so unfair. Twilight had often spoken about this day multiple times throughout her pregnancy, eagerly anticipating it, but now she won't be able to experience it.

As he reached for another shot, Gloriosa's voice cut through his thoughts. "TIMBER! STOP!" she yelled, her voice laced with urgency and anger.

Timber turned and saw Gloriosa struggling with both car seats, each holding a twin. Dusk was starting to get fussy with all the commotion, squirming and whimpering. She managed to set them down in the living room and stormed over to Timber Spruce.

"What the hell are you doing?" Gloriosa demanded, her eyes filled with anger.

"Get away from me!" Timber snapped. He turned and headed towards the basement door. He had enough for the day and wanted to get away.

"This is unacceptable behavior, Timber!” Gloriosa fumed. “You can't be drunk all day! You're a father now!"

Timber reached the door, flung it open, and shouted, "I can't be a father right now!" He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving Gloriosa standing there.

In the living room, Dusk's fussing escalated into full-blown crying. Gloriosa sighed, her heart heavy. She unbuckled him from his car seat and lifted him into her arms.

"There, there, baby..." she murmured in a soothing tone. “Daddy didn’t mean that. He’s just very sad right now.”

Dusk continued to cry, growing more distressed by the minute. His toothless mouth wide open as he cried while kicking his tiny legs. Gloriosa checked his diaper, but it was clean.

Nova, as if sensing the distress of her brother, started fussing as well. She kicked her tiny legs front and back as she squirmed and whimpered. Now both twins were upset and Gloriosa felt overwhelmed by the situation.

Meanwhile, in the basement, Timber sat on the sofa, downing the bottle of vodka. He was no longer patient enough to pour a shot; he just drank straight from the bottle. He heard the muffled cries of his newborns echoing in his ears. Timber’s heart ached as he knew that he was failing them even before he had a chance to try.

Author's Note

I also drew what the twins look like:

THE TWINS

I'll be honest, I had to do a lot of research on how different types of alcohol are consumed. I'm religious, so I've never drunk alcohol in my life because it's forbidden. So yeah, I'm a little ignorant when it comes to it.