A Light Vodka

3 months after the incident at the bar, and Zipp and Hitch are together

“I wanted to ask Zipp, why did you drink so much that night at the bar?” Hitch asked, gazing at the sun lowering inch by inch.

“Well, sharing all my feelings, about you and myself, that took more courage than anything i’ve ever done before, and well it kind of blurred the line between reality and fiction and I never realised you were actually listening. The moment you asked that question, I immediately thought of the 2 hours i’d spent thinking up ways to end myself. But then I realised that if I was going to do it, I should tell you that I felt the same way, because I already knew that you did, and to leave you hanging, i’d never be able to live up there with that guilt, it would haunt me in my next life too,” Zipp replied, looking at the sand below her hooves. “It felt like I was ripping my own guts out, to get that out of me, i’d never mentioned it or written it anywhere, and frankly if I hadn’t been so drunk, if you hadn’t decided to take me to your home, I wouldn’t be here right now,”

“And, then what, you’d stare at me from up there watching me live in the guilt of not letting you know that there is some pony out there who loves you? I’d be bawling my eyes out Zipp,” He said.

When she remained quiet he asked again, “And what were according to you the most suitable ways for you to do that?”

She looked up slightly, watching the water come in and go out over ang over again before saying, “The best one I had listed was to slit my neck just so the blood vessels were cut, it wouldn’t look like a murder, so they wouldn’t have anypony to accuse of my death. I though of hanging myself, but that wouldn’t be too pleasing for anypony to see, me dangling like a Christmas ornament from the ceiling,” she said giving a crude laugh.

“Zipp, that’s…I honestly though you’d be choosing the ways that were the most painless, but this…Zipp what were you thinking?”

“I don’t know Hitch, ok? Maybe its just because I want attention, that’s what Mom said when I tried telling her that I might be depressed,” she let out a breath through her teeth. “But, I think im happier now that I’ve got out of that,”

He suddenly put a hoof under her chin and lifted it so she was looking right into his eyes. “Zipp, promise me that if you ever think of that ever again, you’ll tell somepony, wether it’s me or whoever, but you have to promise me you will,”

Her eyes moved between his and she gave that soft smile he loved before letting out a soft chuckle, “Of course, Sheriff,” She said, before sealing the pact with a long kiss.

“Y’know, I’m kind of glad that I went through that kind of depression,” She said after they broke apart.

“What? You enjoyed being held captive by the darkness and self-loathing of your own mind?” Hitch asked, looking at her incredulously.

“Well when you put it like that it sounds wrong,” Zipp started. “If you put it anyway it would sound wrong,” Hitch added, pointing a hoof at her.

“What I mean to say is, if I hadn’t gone through this, I probably would never have confessed to you, and we wouldn’t be here right now,” they both were silent for a while before Zipp said, “Thanks Hitch,”

“For what?” He asked, confused.

“Y’know, for being there for me, actually willing to listen to all of the stupid things I think, and also for not telling anypony about what I said to you that night,” Zipp said, the last bit referring to all the self harm thoughts she’d had.

Hitch let out a “Tsk” sound and swatted his hoof at her gratitude.

Suddenly Zipp stood up and went into the water that matched her eyes, so that it lapped at her hooves.

He followed her into the water and looked into her blue eyes with his eyes that matched the shades of yellow and orange that the sun cast upon them. He threw his hoof around her neck and brought their faces together, their foreheads touching.

“I love you, forever and always,” he whispered, his voice barely audible over the rush of the water, yet clear as day to her ears.

“Right back at you Sheriff,” she whispered back before their lips met. They stood there locked in the moment as time seemed to slow as though they had the freedom to stay there forevermore.