Hope On The Rocks [PiE]

>You've been out drinking every night so far

>Heartbroken and with nothing left to lose, you proceed to drown your sorrows day in and day out.

>There are others here as well.

>Not particularly in the same situation as you, but still in desperate need of a distraction; whether it be long or short term.

>Former sports stars, widowed wives, and bankrupt fathers who've just hit rock bottom.

>Man and pony.

>All follow these neon lights like the north star in search of liquid comfort.

>There was one pony in particular you've noticed coming in recently.

>Rumor has it, she finally found and the lost her one true love in a freak accident.

>A clichéd scenario, but one you've seen many times.

>It's not as uncommon as one would think.

>Her white coat and long, curled mane contrasted sharply against the dim light of the bar.

>The long black dress she wore also made her coat stand out a bit more.

>Another rumor says that that's the dress she wore to her fincé's funeral.

>If there's one thing you've learned since you've started coming here, it's that things aren't always as they seemed.

>And certainly not as bad as people make them out to be.

>But it's hard to see the light in your own issues without someone there to show it to you.

 

>So as you watch this girl-

>Er, mare.

>As you watch her, you take in certain aspects about her.

>She likes to sit alone, like everyone else.

>Usually in a corner booth.

>She likes to listen to slow music.

>A broken heart needs to hurt before it can heal.

>A sad song is sometimes the way to go as it can shed light on a situation with words and phrases you would have never thought of.

>She's particularly fond of white wine.

>An obvious choice for someone who seems to know a thing or two about class.

>It also points that she's more or less here to think with a buzz as opposed to getting drunk and trying to black out her mind like others around here.

>However, she's chosen a different drink tonight.

>Tequila.

>Several shot glasses sit grouped atop her table.

>Something's happened, but you can't figure it out unless you speak to her.

>You'd rather just people watch like you have been.

>It helps keep your mind off of your problems by studying others' problems.

 

>The pony had lifted her last shot up to eye level with her magic and just stared at it.

>Closing her eyes, and with a heavy sigh, she throws in back and hits the shot glass against the table.

>She usually seemed content with just keeping to herself and staring at the tabletop before her as she sipped her drink.

>Across the bar, on a slightly-raised platform used as a stage, was a piano.

>No one ever used it and its sole job was to collect dust.

>Apparently, it took several shots of hard liquor for it to finally catch this depressed pony's eye.

>It took several minutes, but she eventually slid off the chair to stand.

>She had to hold onto it with both forelegs to prevent herself from falling over.

>Slowly stumbling across the bar, she makes her way to the old stringed instrument.

>That black dress of hers dragged lightly across the wooden floorboards.

>Your own curiosity had been piqued when the soft notes of the keys being played caught your ears.

>Turning your head, you saw her sitting and just casually pressing the various keys with her magic.

>If she was actually testing it, you have no idea.

>It sounded as if she was trying to find certain notes.

>You went back staring at your drink on the bar in front of you.

>You don't know a thing about playing any instruments, but you're content to just sit and listen.

>Hell, maybe she'll start singing.

 

>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X4Vr7EVcO0

>She started to actually string the notes into proper chords at a soft, slow tempo.

>"I'm so tired of being here."

>No way.

>You turn your head again.

>"Suppressed by all my childish fears."

>She was actually singing.

>"And if you have to leave."

>Softly, but still.

>"I wish that you would just leave."

>"'Cause your presence still lingers here."

>"And it won't leave me alone."

 

>"These wounds won't seem to heal."

>"This pain is just too real."

>"There's just too much that time cannot erase."

>"When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears."

>"When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears."

>"And I held your hand through all of these years."

>"But you still have."

>The unicorn hung her head low and closed her eyes.

>"All of me."

 

>By now she had attracted the attention of the whole bar.

>If they were just rumors before, it seems much more real now.

>It may not have been her knight in shining armor, but she definitely lost someone dear to her.

>She continued singing softly, but with the rest of the patrons and even the jukebox as silent as ever, her voice carried and seemed louder than it really was.

>She had actually moved many in the establishment to silent tears.

>Those remembering loved ones gone or simply reminded once again of their troubles.

>You yourself had also felt a tear fall into your beer.

>As she finished, no one said a word.

>Not a single person gave applause.

>The pony also sat in total silence for a minute or two after she had finished.

>A few tears fell down to the keys and she slid off the bench.

>The patrons went back to their sulking.

>The unicorn had walked up the the counter, placed a few dollar bills, then turned towards the door.

>Out into the night she stepped, leaving the smokey atmosphere of the bar.

>Your eyes followed her out.

>When the door had shut behind her, you continued to stare for a bit longer.

>Turning back to your drink, you shake your head and stand.

>Dropping some money on the bar, you move towards the door and follow her out.