She broke it straight after she was born. She healed, it was a clean brake I think, though it's never been right since.

I was easy for me to see the almost shame in her voice, as her voice became very cold and seemingly too calm. My head started into a soft nod, but then I remembered my observations of her blindness earlier.

"Yes, the way it healed seems to be a clean break, however what I believe has happened is the bone was still very weak, and not much muscle had built around to support it. We may have to reset the bone."

I spoke softly, but slightly grimly by the end. I knew how painful this kind of procedure could be. It wasn't something as simple as popping it back in. This involved maneuvering the leg so the the bone would first move up and to the left, wear it should then go where it was supposed to. Should.. there really was no guarentee.

I looked up from where I stood, my face soft, but highlighted by a grim look.

"I won't lie to you two. Its a very painful procedure, and she will have to wear a splint for a while after, otherwise we risk putting the bone back where it started. With your permission, I will go ahead and continue with it, and do my very best."

I kept my voice soft, my eyes deep and dark, very sympathetic. It was then that the stallion spoke up who was standing to the side. He was very quiet, I had almost forgotten he was there. Tears seemed to cloud his eyes uncontrollably, but he blinked them away before looking at me.

"Please.. just do what you can for her."

He said very softly, almost in a whisper. I nodded simply, not really thinking there was anything I could reply with to that.

[[Fun Fact: Did you know there ain't no muscle in the lower part of a horses leg? ish all bone and flesh and veins hahah XDDDD]]

Yes, the way it healed seems to be a clean break, however what I believe has happened is the bone was still very weak, and not much muscle had built around to support it. We may have to reset the bone. His explanation was grim, harsh but straight forward and what I needed. I nodded swiftly, though my ears were tilted to the side to show my discomfort in this situation. I inhaled deeply, Nova's scent - with blood - reminding me she was there. Usually one would look at them for comfort, but my eyes stared unblinkingly straight into the stallions eyes. Though I was unaware of it.

I won't lie to you two. Its a very painful procedure, and she will have to wear a splint for a while after, otherwise we risk putting the bone back where it started. With your permission, I will go ahead and continue with it, and do my very best.

I nodded, sighing with regret. His voice was soft and it comforted me, though I sensed it was purposely like that. As if he didn't usually do that. Like he was putting it on to show someone... some like me.... his emotions. My head tilted in a canine way as I pondered this. It was nearly impossible for most horses to notice my sight failure. They always had an uncomfortable feeling around me, for my eyes were dead and horses feared death. They kept away from other dead things, so they were uneasy around some like me, someone who had the essence of death around them.

But this couln't tip him off, it never did to others. And either he was highly observant or he had encountered this before. I put it down to the later conclusion, and reminded myself to ask about this from him when he was finished. Surely Nova would pass out from the pain, and she would begin her slow healing as she slept. In which I would proceed to be bold and ask of him my wonderings.

Please.. just do what you can for her. Ace, whom was always so silent, snapped me out of the dark place within my mind. I jerked my head back for a few seconds, then lowered it to Nova again. "Your going to be fixed, Nova." I murmured, and dropped my shoulder to lie beside her. My muzzle nibbled along her back softly, rubbing relaxingly. I hoped with her muscles relaxed she would be less prone to pain than she would be if she was tense. I sighed and blew against her skin lightly.

[[Whoops sorry about that! I was actually wondering that as I was writing it haha :) ]]

Your going to be fixed, Nova.

The mare's voice was now in the background for me as I again studied the filly's leg. My mind was working hard, trying to figure out the best way to gently manipulate the leg back to where it was supposed to be. My eyes were dark and soft, full of knowledge from my past. Turning my head for a moment, I gestered to the stallion.

"I'm going to need your help. Can you hold the leg up right about here-" I stopped to point with my muzzle, showing him where I meant- "and hold it as steady as you can."

The stag did as I instructed him, putting his muzzle beneath her injured leg and lifting as gently as possible, his eyes squinting as the filly grinded her teeth in pain.

Once I could see the bone easily, I knew exactly how I needed to push it back. It seemed relatively easy at that point, but my expression didn't change, not wanting to give false hope.

"I'm going to start now."

I spoke softly, then, with one last look at the leg, I shifted my weight down to my knees, so that I was kneeling beside her. With a quick nod to Ace to hold the leg up and steady, I began. As soon as I touched her skin, the filly winced, as if a fire burned down her leg that was never ending. My muzzle wasn't so hesitant this time, as I reached again, starting to massage the skin over the bone, readying the young one for what was really to come.

I tried not to look at her face. I knew what I would see. Absolute agony. My ears heard enough. The gasps and grunts became louder as it felt like the bone was actually beginning to move back. It seemed as if it was on the verge of going back to where it was supposed to, up by the knee. Her screams and cries made a sweat break out on my body, trying to decide wether to stop and rest or continue. Either the bone would go in, and she would recover, or it wouldn't and the next time it would be even more painful. My instinct told me to keep going.

There it was. I felt it go back in just at the knee, and I could have sworn that I heard something.

"It's in."

I grunted, my voice hoarse and dry, I didn't realize I was actually holding my breath in. In a rush, I let it out. My eyes now looked at the filly's face, to see that she was now oddly settled against the ground, but as I looked further I knew that she had passed out. My eyes quickly scanned her sides, making sure her breathing was still coming normally.

----------------------

Nova

One moment, the pain was subsiding in the background, only slightly, as I drifted into sleep. The next, it felt like fire was burning up my leg and throughout my body. A cry escaped my dry lips before I could hold it back. The dried sweat that had settled on my coat was now being covered in a thick lather of new sweat.

The pain was honestly, indescribable. One of the worst things I have ever felt. I begged mentally for it to go away, I would have done anything. A weird sensation built up throughout my leg, but before I had the chance to wonder what it was, I was overcome by a new pain. My body settled back against the hard ground, eyes closed, my world black.

[[Sorry, tried to make it as close to reality as possible haha excuse my flaws :) ]]

[[no problem lol its even more unliekly that a horse in the wild with a broken leg will even survive lol so no worries bout' the reality thing xDDD]]

I barely listened as the stallion said some instructions. I focused on getting the sweat off Nova's coat, my ears twitching and picking up faraway whinnies too quiet for the equines around me to hear. I'm going to start now. His voice stole my attention away from the other horses, and I felt the vibration through the ground as he fell to the ground. I knew now would be the hard part.

I felt Nova's muscles tense as the stallion begun his work. Sweat broke out over her coat, making me react by fear sweat breaking out over myself. Then she cried out and I knew fear would be pounding in all of our hearts for the fate of this filly. I wished she would be fixed. I wished she would be okay. I wish I hadn't snapped her leg all those years ago. Why was I so stupid? My teeth grinded together as Nova went through all the pain I deserved to have.

And then the pain that I fought through, that Nova fought through in reality, ended. I heard a distinct crack, something the others would not hear quite so much. It's in. Said the stallion in relief as he fell back. I was panting, Nova was slumped against me. Her conciousness faded from the real world, I felt it in the relaxtion of her muscles. Right now, she was temporarily in a better place.

"That was..." I trailed off, shuffling away from my sister and letting her fall to the ground. I couldn't handle this. The mental pain was too great. I knew right now I was dancing on the edge. Not long now and Ace would really see what happened to a horse taken by grief. But I would hold up, for now. I just needed to get away from my sister, to act like a normal horse with a normal life for awhile. I rolled up and walked a few stpes away from the group. I lowered my mustang head and began grazing.

A cold wind blew past and I shivered, my sweat drying on my body. Oh well. I could handle this just for once, my head raised and I closed my dead eyes. My nicker was for no one and everyone, it was mournful, but relieved.

[[Haha yes, very true indeed = P ]
Stefan

That was...

The mare's voice broke through the silence, as my dark eyes watched her step away, letting the young filly's body slump to the ground. I sighed softly, turning back to the filly. Looking down at the stallion who still held his daughter's leg still.

"I'll go and collect some things from the forest to make another splint. Are you alright till I get back?"

I asked simply, glancing up at the stallion for a reply. He grunted in reply, I guessed because he didn't want to joslte the filly's leg. Turning away, I stopped in front of the mare.

"Monitor her breathing while I'm gone. If anything changes, come get me immediatley. I will only be a minute."

I spoke quickly and efficiently, knowing I had to be fast, not wanting her leg to be unset again. That would set us completley back to square one. With one last look at them, I turned and started into a canter down the trail. I know exactly what I was searching for: a sturdy stick to keep it straight, moss and leaves for plently of padding, and vines to tie it all together.

My eyes quickly searched the ground, passing by twigs, and sticks that snapped beneath my hooves. Soon enough I came upon a short, straight thick stick that was definitley sturdy enough. I quickly grabbed it in my teeth, easily able to grab moss and vines on my way back.

Monitor her breathing while I'm gone. If anything changes, come get me immediatley. I will only be a minute. He cut me away from the daydream I was having, and my expression grew somber and somewhat savage towards him for a few moments. Then it cleared and I nodded, too tired to speak. Even from here I could hear my sister breathe. I could hear her steady heartbeat and even Ace's breathing. I didn't need to stand there like an idiot and put my ear up to her maw to make sure I could hear it coming through her throat. So I stood and waited here, not making a move, not even acting like I was bothering to help her.

I listened to the rythmn of his stride as he departed, and suddenly I wanted to run and escpae like he was. How wonderful it would be to just leave and run away. To not be bound to Hoofbeat, to my sister as she lay half dead. To not be bound by my stamina and go forever. I wondered if my mother could do that now. Maybe she never ran out of the thing that drives out gallop forward and freely. I longed for that now.

My pelt glistened with sweat as I finally made my way back. Stride lengthening, I pushed myself into a canter, wanting to make it back as fast as possible, without losing any of my supplies. Soon enough I saw the tired stallion still holding her leg steady, and I went even faster, hoping that we could get the splint on without it coming out of place once again.

When I approached them, my eyes gazed over the mare, it seemed like she was almost wanting to avoid the situation, like she honestly wasn't bothering with helping her. I didn't really know what was wrong, but it annoyed me. Here was this filly close to death. With a shake of my head, I grunted to myself softly, setting down the supplies next to her leg.

"Hold it steady just for a few moments longer."

I told him, seeing the sweat that had broken out over his neck, he grunted in reply. Checking her breathing before I began, I knew she was still pretty unconcious. That was probably best, seeing as this would still give her a bit of pain here and there. I grabbed the stick first, encouraged to see it was a good length, meaning I didn't have to break it which would leave jagged edges. Setting it against the side of the leg, the stallion held that within his teeth as well as her leg. I hadn't expected to ask him to do so, but it definitley helped. With a bit of effort, I had the moss underneath and overtop of the stick, cushioning the leg. The vines held the splint together quite well, I saw when I got up to take a look. With a nod, the stallion set her leg gently to the ground.

Taking another glance at her, it looked like she could be unconcious for a little longer. But to be honest, it was hard to tell.

"That should hold for now."

I said simply, stepping back from her.

*Bump Silv!*

[[O.O i had NO idea I hadn't replied. what a noob.]]

I heard him return, just as I continued to listen to the breathing of my sister. My nose reached down to the ground, and I tore grass to graze. I was too wound up to graze, but I was determined to get away from here. A normal horse grazes right? Right? My tail whipped away the flies, and my ear turned ever so slightly when the stallion grunted softly. Hold it steady just for a few moments longer. I heard Ace's muffled reply, my head lifted slowly as I chewed the grass. I swallowed, then went for more.

Everything seemed quiet, except for the occasional unexplainable noises that told me they were doing something. Now was one of those times where I had my sight. I wished I could see what was going on, but I was also afraid of what I would see. It cut me, but maybe was saving me. That should hold for now. I stopped chewing, Nova's breathing wasn't even, but wasn't in great pain either. She must be still unconcious. Her body couldn't cope with the pain, I was glad she wasn't in this world. It would help.

I trudged slowly towards them, my nose out to find my way. t bumped into the stallions rump, and I pulled back sharply with an apologetic snort. "I need to watch where I'm going." I half joked, backing up one or two steps. "Is she going to live?" My voice shook with these words, and I suddenly came dangerously close to falling into a world of misery. But I forced it down with a cold and slightly fustrated expression. I reached for more grass. Normality. Thats what I needed.

[[haha no worries = ) ]]

All this time I was wasting, hoping you, would come around
I've been giving out chances every time and all you do is let me down
And its taking me this long baby but I figured you, out
And you're thinking we'll be fine again, but not this time around...


I need to watch where I'm going. The mare softly joked as she bumped into my rump. The joke did little to lift the heavy feeling that hung between the air. Is she going to live? Her voice shook a little I noticed easily, dropping my head to look into her dead eyes. Somehow I figured that she knew how others looked and appeared around her. It was just a feeling I seemed to have.

"The next few hours will be absolutley crucial. I'll be honest; if things go downhill tonight, things won't be good by morning...

And, in other words, she may not make it through the night. Her future, for now anyway, looked pretty bleak. A leg injury was very serious, and the most of the time the one injured didn't survive. I had no doubt in my mind that if I hadn't been so close that things would have been even more downhill by now.

You don't have to call, anymore
I won't pick up the phone
This is the last, straw
Don't wanna hurt anymore

The next few hours will be absolutley crucial. I'll be honest; if things go downhill tonight, things won't be good by morning... Was the only answer I got. Straight forward, yet even though I knew he was trying to make it sound nicer, we all knew what he really meant. How little Nova's chance of surviving was tonight. I wasn't sure if it was getting dark or not, I realised the hot sun was no longer on my back. But that was it. I longed to ask Ace what part of sunhigh it was, but I still wanted to know about this stallion.

"I guess all we can do is wait." I sighed, I needed something to pass the time. I couldn't just linger around to feel the fate of my sister. I had to do something. "I'm going for a walk." I announced suddenly, my nose was lowered as I brushed past the stallions rump. I reached out to Ace, feeling his shoulder before I gave it a quick nibble and turned to go.

My ears turned to the stallion as I passed, my breath falling on his shoulder. The I carried on, till the sound of their heartbeats - Nova's faster one - was no longer quietly crawling to my ears.

I guess all we can do is wait. I gave a soft nod. I'm going for a walk. Her announcment was sudden as she brushed passed my rump, watching as she touched the stallion's shoulder and then turned to leave. I turned to make sure the the filly's side still rose and fell with each breath. Her breathing was still ragged, as if each breath took a great effort. I watched as her eye lashes fluttered softly, but I knew it would still be a bit before she would be waking up. Turning my eyes to the stallion, I saw him staring at what I guessed was his daughter, his eyes cloudy, making it difficult to tell any other emotion but sorrow and guilt.

I'll do all I can for her."

I told him softly, not wanting to give false hope, but not wanting to just stand there staring. I watched as he didn't take his eyes off her. just gave barely a nod, making me think thats the only reply I was getting.

"Th- thank you."

His voice only caught for a second, then he spoke quite clearly. I shook my head, wanting to tell him that thank you wasn't needed, but he had turned his full attention back to the filly, moving to lay down beside her, the filly's body slumping against his.

[[i have NO idea how to reply to that hahaha]]

[[ just reply with her taking a walk, thinking about stuff, maybe thinking about how her mother would handle this]]

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Going nowhere for the daily races
Going nowhere
Going nowhere

The passing of words between the stallions was nothing but a murmur to my sensitive ears as I walked slowly away. A light, cooler breeze blew around me, whispering through my legs and chilling my belly. My lifeless eyes were closed as I walked, I didn't need them, I felt them, but they were of no use to me. And I wondered why I had gotten myself into this mess. Ever since... she died it was like my life went downhill. Everyday was threatening my old self or my other self. My old self was the best, it brought light upon others when they had none. I was a sun, helping those why needed it, but without that sun with me I was just my other self. Nothing but a soulless wonder, wandering around in a mad world.

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
Cause' I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very... mad world... mad world...

I stumbled over rabbit hole in th grass, cursing and favouring my right foreleg as I stood there. I raised my nares and inhaled deeply, the light breeze was carrying my scent to where Nova lay in her temporary death. I wished for some company, to side track me from the what was happening back there. Suddenly, so badly, like a thorn stabbing into my core, I wanted my mother. Not like normal. I always wanted her, but now I though if I could just talk to her now, I would be happy to say goodbye. I'd be happy to move on. I'd let her go and finally get on with my own life. But... sometimes things just don't go the way we want it to.

[[Have to say it.... love that song!!! Lol = ) ]]

Situation's all critical
You've got to look first before you go
If you wasn't too sure then now you know
The situation is all critical...

I nodded in reply to the stallion's thank you, and watched as he went to lay beside the filly's slumped body. With a soft sigh, I shook my sticky forelock out of my eyes, which had become stuck with sweat. I hadn't realized how nervous I really was about screwing up everything. It wasn't until now that I realized that really, I had realized that self conciously, one wrong move could have been the end.

I forced my legs to move forward to a stream trickling by, its soft sound calming my mind. Reaching my head down, I took a small drink, letting the icy water slide easily down my dry throat, quenching the parched surface.

Wait OK you've got to look before you go
Wait OK you've got to look before you go...

I thought long and hard for a moment. I had helped many horses, especially with the war that had just happened. Many had come out injured at the least, and I was around to help them. It made me wonder why this particular case seemed so draining that I would doubt my own actions, something I hadn't done before, something that was completley foreign to me.

Deep into the darkness where I hide
The monsters are burried down deep inside
You never know when they're satisfied
Buried down deep where the sun don't shine
The monsters are buried down deep inside...

Suddenly, I had to know. Why this seemed to affect me so much. Plus, the way the mare had left in such a strange way had left me curious. I was surpsied that she hadn't wanted to stick around, make positively sure that the filly would be alright, I thought she wouldn't leave her side.

"I'll.. be right back. Just call me if something changes."

I muttered quickly to the stallion, catching his grunt of a reply as I turned to leave, with a quick glance to find him staring at his daughter much like he'd looked the whole time I stood there.

I knew what I was doing wasn't probably right. That I should just mind my own buisness, and just do what was needed. But helping them- didn't that give me a sort of right to know what had happened? I thought it did- but there was also a part of me who knew that this was out of character for me, and in a way- wrong.

I picked up the mare's scent easily, and soon saw her ahead of me. I knew she would hear me coming, smell me even though she could not see me.

Wait OK you've got to look before you go
You're wasting away
OK you've got to look before you go

My head rose to the skies forlornly, I missed her so much. Tears stained my cheeks as my sightless eyes stared wide open. Maybe I would regain my sight if I concentrated hard enough. Maybe... somehow... I would know what my own self looked like. Or what I the sky really was. I felt these things, I smelt these things, I figured out things. But I would never really know them. Maybe a miracle would come to me tonight and I would know who I was. It was pretty far-fetched, yeah, but hey, I could dream.

I small, pitiful nicker escaped my maw. It shook out, and I blinked the tears from my face. Then I heard his hoofbeats and whirled to face him. Though my face was slightly to his right, I would never know it. My scent had been blowing his way, so it was only his sound that alerted me. My heart pounded with fright as I faced him, frozen, silent. Then all at once I visibly relaxed, I let out the breath I had been holding as if I had realised this stallion was no greater threat to me. He wasn't, he saved my sister. God knows why.

"You startled me." I blurted out, not really knowing why I had said such a thing. "Your pretty quiet... and well, I never caught your scent." I shrugged, like any horse would be startled. They would, no horse had hearing as developed as me. If I hadn't been so wrapped up in my thoughts I would have heard him sooner. I shuffled self conciously, shaking my neck so my mane landed in a disarray on both sides of my neck. "Shouldn't you be... with Nova? Or something."

You startled me. Your pretty quiet... and well, I never caught your scent. Shouldn't you be... with Nova? Or something.

I stood quietly as she spoke, watching as she shook her mane as it landed on both sides of her neck. Nova. That must have been the filly's name. I shook my head softly, before answering her in a soft voice that was steady and sure.

"My apologies- it was not my intention. She is under watch of the stallion at the moment- for now, all we can do is wait. Its difficult to tell when she will gain conciousness again."

My voice was more somber in the end, knowing the fate that could very well affect Nova. With a shake of my head, my black knotted forelock brushed out of my deep eyes. It was then that I realized that I really honestly didn't know why I had seeked out this mare. There was something about her, something that I tried hard to figure out myself, but was unable to. Maybe I was completley out of line. Scratch that. I was out of line for following her. But the other part of me knew that maybe somehow I could help her.

"My dubbing is Stefan."

I spoke softly, thinking it was the best way to start.

Iknow I can stop the pain if I will it all away
If I will it all away...

My apologies- it was not my intention. She is under watch of the stallion at the moment- for now, all we can do is wait. Its difficult to tell when she will gain conciousness again.

I knew my expression gave away a cold seriousness that would make one wonder what I was really feeling, but I couldn't help it. Shoiwng my feelings would be accepting that they were there. Letting them consume me until the darkness had enclosed me in a torturing corner of my mind that closed tighter and tighter till I was lost to insanity. I couldn't let that happen. Though I was still worried for Nova, I still ached for her. He says when she will gain conciousness, but we both know it's not when. It's if. Something that we both did not know. Something that would continue to destroy Ace and I, as we played the waiting game. The odds we against us, really. The first time she was lucky, she healed even though she had problems... this time, not so lucky.

My dubbing is Stefan I must have been to whirled up in my thoughts that I had lost the reality of where I was. My head snapped back to his voice, and I shrugged apologetically. As if I had anything to apologise for. "A long time ago I was called Faith, but the term does not apply to me the way it should anymore." I spoke slowly, my knees feling weak underneath me. "Your saving Nova's life, and her father is Ace." I didn't say anything about her, wondering if he would notice the missing family member.

A wind blew softly through, the grass brushed against my legs. I shivered for things lost. But kept my now alert ears pointed to where Stefan's heart beat, awaiting his answer.

A long time ago I was called Faith, but the term does not apply to me the way it should anymore. Your saving Nova's life, and her father is Ace.

I listened to her voice, which I noticed seemed to get pretty weak. Father, daughter... what about mother? I thought, trying to justify it with a reasonable explanation, despite how I knew there wasn't one. For a moment, I opened my mouth to ask, but then shut it just as quickly. I was in no position to ask that. Especially as I noticed her shiver as the wind blew through the grass beneath our feet. It was a moment before I realized I hadn't replied to her words yet.

"Faith- doesn't seem like an easy name to live up to.."

I spoke softly, slowly almost, trying to gauge her reaction to my words, being completley honest. I didn't believe by which she claimed to not deserve the name anymore. To me, she looked like someone who had been through a lot of heart-ache, and possibly made some not so great decisions, in which she might regret. Yes, I had a way of seeing others for who they really were. For me, it was always easy to see past the masks others put up- the ones that weren't really them.

He was quiet for awhile, as if mulling over my words. What was I, to him? Did I show on my outside what I intended or does my facade not pass the test of other horses? Or is it a dangerous mixture of what I'm trying to put out and what I'm really feeling? I wasn't sure, and it scared me. "Faith- doesn't seem like an easy name to live up to.. I heard him say, and was brought back to a place where life made more sense...

It was cold outside! I shivered until a warm tongue rasped over me. Then the sun looked past the clouds and warmed me. I struggled to rise, over and over I fell but my mother's voice encouraged me with nickers and snorts. "Have faith, my girl. Have faith and you'll get up." I rose easily then, and from then on my faith lead me, until now...

I realised suddenly I was still with the stallion. And that I still hadn't answered., "It was easy to live up to, I must have been able to or she wouldn't have given me my dubbing." I told him somberly, of course she knew I could handle it. But no one can know there own death to avoid it, can they?

It was easy to live up to, I must have been able to or she wouldn't have given me my dubbing.

I suddenly heard her say as I watched her seem to be lost in her own world. Her voice was deeply somber, like there was a slight catch in it. She.. Somehow I knew who she was. I had a creeping suspicion beforehand. It was weird, but the abscence of her was even obvious to someone like me, who really knew nothing about them. The abscence was like a big part of each of them was missing- completley and utterly gone. And all that was left was a hole that could never be filled the same way again.

I knew very well of that sort of feeling. It wasn't a stranger to me. Shaking my head, I stared at the ground, not wanting to think of anything of that sort anymore. I had let those thoughts screw me up for too long. Just as I thought I had a handle on them, they seemed to break free. Once I seemed to get a hold of myself, my gaze lifted from the ground as I shook my coal black forelock from my face.

"She- she's passed on, hasn't she?"

I didn't bother with telling her that I knew who she meant. Maybe I was overstepping my boundaries. But heck, you only live once.

He was silent for awhile, as if my words had triggered some emotion within him and he was fighting it back, for now. But of course he wasn't, cause that was what I did. I was the one who fought for a balance between my uncontrollable personalities. That didn't mean everyone else went through it. If they did all hell would break lose, though some selfish part of me wished they did go through what I did. So I would have the sense that I'm not the only one who's lost something, lost someone. I'm not the only one. I wasn't, but that didn't stop the feeling.

She- she's passed on, hasn't she? He said, his tone startling me. Like he was sure he knew what he was talking about. That he knew that I knew. and I did know. What a mind trip. I shook my head furiously, then stopped and turned my ears just realising he was there. "Passed on is a nice way to put it." I muttered, nodding. "But yeah, she's not around anymore."

I shrugged, and touched my nose to the ground. A shudder ran through my body, I felt the heat rise up in my throat like bile. The warning sign that told me tears weren't far away. Get a grip Faith, you've been through this over and over. Calm... Not taken by grief today... I told myself, my lips moving silently as I willed myself to gain control. I raised my head, shaking myself as if to rid bad feelings. My small battle was quick, so it looked like a had just lowered my head, for a little to long.

Passed on is a nice way to put it. But yeah, she's not around anymore.

I nodded softly, watching her carefully as she shrugged, a small tremor rippling through her body. With a shake of my head, I looked at the ground, wondering if I overstepped my boundaries by asking her. Talking about her had clearly brought up an old chest with many memories that caused her pain. I could see easily that she was having a hard time, and I cleared my throat softly, shaking my head again.

"My apologies.. I didn't mean to pry or anything. I won't say that I know what your going through, but I will tell you that I've been in a situation similar to yours."

I made my voice soft, almost a whisper, but I knew that she could hear me. Despite the fact that the accident had been many years ago, the feeling of agony of grief never left me. It was always there, sometimes held down with new memories, but it was never surpressed to the point of extinction. Always there, always brought to the surface.

My apologies.. I didn't mean to pry or anything. I won't say that I know what your going through, but I will tell you that I've been in a situation similar to yours.

Similiar? I gritted my teeth, my muscles tense with agony. But my blank expression matched my dead eyes today. I was getting the hang of this thing. I would, I really would. "Similiar..." I murmured. I could leap for a chance to change these feelings and ask about him, but did I want to desert my pain for someone elses?

"What happened? In your situation." I asked, my words deciding for me. My head raised and my ears pricked to listen, maybe I looked too interested. Like nosy. But I didn't care. Who would, when they had the chance to hear the problems of someone else? When I could have the small dilute comfort to add to my concentration of misery. Every little bit counts