I don't know why I was crying. Especially in front of a filly I didn't know. But here I was, wrapped up in this "Octavia's" arms crying like I was some fowl.

It might have been for a few minutes, but it sure felt like hours. When I had finally calmed down a little, there was a strange feeling I had never had before. Peace. After running and fearing everything thrown my way, I finally felt like I could just sit still.

I was still hugging Octavia when I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Releasing the hug and looking back I found Melody levitating a small cup next to her. First she gave me a quick hug and then handed me cup. In the past, tea was something I rarely had and it had always been bland. What was in this cup was a totally new experience. One sip of the hot liquid and I was already craving more. I drank it as fast as I could, not even caring about it slightly burning the roof of my mouth. It was just another warm feeling I could add to the list of new, happy experiences I was getting today.

Stephano chuckled a little at me then said, "You sure like your tea, don't you?"

I blushed a little and shook my head.

"Well then, Melody, why don't you get Vinyl more tea while I get Octavia some food. Then I think there are a few questions we need answering."

And with that they got to work. Octavia and I both sat as still as we could, not saying anything to each other. After a few awkward minutes, I spoke up.

"Thanks..." I said in a whisper. "For the hug..."

"No problem. You looked like you needed it."

"Yah..."

We sat quietly again until Octavia's parents came back with my drink and Octavia's food. This time I drank slowly; savoring the tea as though this would be my last glass.

After a minute, Melody walked over to me, put a hoof on my shoulder and spoke, "Now little one, I don't know how much you want to tell us, but we need to know where you came from and why you were out in those woods. It is okay if you don't want to tell us everything for the moment."

I found my eyes having a starring contest with the floor. My mind was locked in a huge debate. What should I tell these ponies? Everything? Or only a little? How much did I trust these ponies?

A lot....

They took me in without even knowing me. Gave me food, blankets, and made my feel as though what had happened in the past didn't matter at all.

They deserved the truth.

"Momma?"

"Momma?"

"Momma?"

"What do you want?!?!"

Red eyes starred me down from the bed Momma was lying in. By the sound of her voice, she had spent another night out at the bar.

"Um... I... I just..."

"GET OUT OF MY ROOM NOW!!!"

Tears filled my eyes. Slowly I walked over to the nightstand next to the bed and placed the mother's day card down. I had made all by myself. It was covered with lots of little pink hearts. Not that she would ever read it.

"GET OUT!"

More tears filled my eyes as I ran out of her room and into mine. I quickly locked the door and crawled into my bed. Today was the day I thought I could make her happy. The day I finally got her to smile at me.

But it was not. I don't even know why I had gotten my hopes up. Ever since my dad had left, she had seen me as a burden. Maybe that was all I was. A burden. Just getting in her way of spending more at whatever bar she went to.

I sat up and looked in the mirror across the room. Wiping away the tears, I looked into the mirror and gave my best smile. Looking right back at me through the mirror was a happy young filly whose world was perfect.

Why couldn't mine?

"Momma, would you like to listen to me practice for the Summer Music Festival?"

"Why?" She didn't even look at me as she grabbed another bottle from the fridge.

"Well I need to practice and I thought you could listen and tell me what you think..."

"I don't need to listen to it to tell you what I think. It's garbage, just like your father. Now if you don't mind, I would like to enjoy my drink."

And with that I ran to my room. I fought the tears as hard as I could but they still fell. Looking up I saw the mirror. I quickly grabbed hairbrush off my nightstand and threw it at the mirror. Though the mirror now had cracks, I could still see my reflection. I saw myself for what I truly was.

Broken.

I wiped away the tears and put on a half crazed smile.

And there she was again, that perfect filly who should have been me.

Fall had come. The leaves where changing and the mountain air of Canterlot chilled ponies to the bone. But none of them were as cold as I was sitting in that waiting room. No tears were falling from my eyes, but I knew it was only a matter of time.

She had gone out drinking, again. But this time was different. She would always find some way to get home before when she was drunk. Just not this time. This time there was a guard waiting to take me to the hospital.

I had been told what had happened on the way to the hospital. A bar fight. To make things worse, my mother had started it. She had run out of bits and had decided she should just take someone else's drink for them. In the end, a fight broke out. When the crowd had cleared, my mother was lying on the floor coated in her own blood.

The doctors and nurses that passed tried to comfort me. They offered blankets, books, even a few offered a should to cry on. But I accepted none. I may have hated the woman, she was my mother. Knowing if she would make it was the only thing that would comfort me.

I don't know how long it had been when a doctor came and sat down by me.

"I am sorry. We couldn't save her."

That was when the tears fell.

"Some folks from the orphanage will be by to pick you up..."

"NO!" And with that I ran. Out of the hospital I went and into the cold night. No moon or stars to light my way under the clouds. But I kept running.

Finally, exhaustion caught up with me and I stumbled onto a bench that was on a street corner.

It was cold, I was crying, and there was no one there but me.

But who cared about a filly like me?

I slowly lifted my head and looked at my reflection in window of a nearby shop. Quickly I wiped my eyes and put on my best smile. And there it was.

That perfect little filly...
And me...

Author's Note

Here it is! Today's chapter! Please comment and rate!