>The thing about cancer, is that it tears apart not only the body, but also the relationships around you, and your psyche.
>At first, everyone around you cares, and they visit you when you're unable to leave the house.
>As you gradually become weaker and weaker, the visits dwindle, and you find yourself alone with maybe one or two close friends, maybe even family that comes to see you weekly.
>Then the visits dwindle even more, until you find yourself at home all alone most the time.
>It's only natural, really.
>After all, all of them have lives, and are busy.
>Coupled with the fact that people subconciously avoid negative things, they begin coming over less and less.
>Soon, they come over only to get you to a hospital,
>Maybe they'll even hold an awkward conversaton with you.
>About how things were better beefore you became sick, and tell you that you're going to get better.
>Then they leave.
>You begin to realize that you're a burden on everyone, and everyone thinks so too.
>And you get angry.
>Then sad.
>But you can't show it.
>You're afraid that if you do, then they'll leave for good this time.
>So you bottle it up, nice and tight.
>You smile when you can, and try to make yourself less of a burden.
>But it doesn't really work.
>Every fuckup makes you more angry at everything.
>And finally, you burst.
>You lash out at people that care about you.
>Say some really hurtful things.
>They say some hurtful things.
>And you spend the next few hours drinking yourself stupid and crying yourself to sleep.
 
>You're getting weaker by the day.
>As your condition begins getting worse, more people come to see you.
>That makes you happy, sad, and angry at the same time.
>Happy because of the company.
>Sad because you know it's not going to last.
>Angry because you know all these people are only here to show everyone else that they care.
>To alleviate their concience.
>But you don't let it show.
 
>Every day, you get weaker.
>Soon, they put you in a hospice.
>Maybe a priest comes.
>Maybe an old friend, here to make amends.
>You no longer care
>You've decided to make the best of things and look at the positive side.
>A talk about an omnipotent being that allowed you to get so sick?
>Sure, why not.
>You want me to forgive you for something that happened years ago?
>All right.
 
>The doctor tells you that you don't have much longer, and that you should begin saying your goodbyes.
>You can't think of anyone you want to say goodbye to.
>So you hold the phone in your arms, tracing its cold, plasic edges with your thumb.
>Looking outside, you notice that the moon is full.
>It's most likely just a normal day for everone else.
>But it's a big day for you.
>A once in a lifetime event.
>You chuckle lightly to yourself.
>You're surprised at how peaceful it is near the end.
>Curling up in your blanket, you decide that your bed is the most comfortable thing in the world.
>Maybe you'll close your eyes for a few seconds.
 
---
 
>Cracking open your eyes, you see the bright flourescent lights of a hospital.
>You try to lift your arm, but it's difficult.
>You hear a small beeping sound go off in the room, and the crash of a tray.
>"Doctor! Doctor Poster!"
>Doctor Poster?
>You've never heard that name before.
>Maybe it's one of the new doctors.
>You can hear it getting hectic outside.
>So much fuss over nothing.
>You see a man in a white coat walk over, an worried look on his face.
>He opens your eyes, and shines a torch in your face.
>"His pupils are responsive. Get the princess."
>"Y-yes sir!"
>You open your mouth to speak, only to find your throat dry.
"wa ta," you croak rather unsuccesfully.
>You see his eyes go wide.
>"Can you hear me? Can you respond?"
"Wa tah," you try again.
>"Oh, God, I think he's mentally retarded," says the doctor.
>"Anonymous! How can you say something like that to a patient!?" you hear another, more feminine voice exclaim from the side.
>Wow, she must be really small if you can't see her.
>"I'll have you know it's a valid diagnosis, Redheart." the doctor says defensively.
>Redheart? What a strange name.
>"Oh, everything is a valid diagnosis with you colts," she rebutts.
>You would laugh, but all that escapes your throat is a dry wheezing.
>You should really get some water.
"Wah, tarr" you say once more, curling your tongue near the back of your throat.
>"It would appear that our patient wants a drink of water."Says the small lady.
>"I'll prop him up, you get him the water."
>The doctor reaches forward and puts one hand on your back, pushing you into an upright position.
>A cup of water enters your sight, as well as a small white dog-horse cradling the cup in its hooves.
>"Hold still now," the dog-horse tells you before tipping the cup slightly, allowing the water to flow down your gullet.
>Your eyes open wide at the sight, growing even wider when the dog-horse talked.
>"First time seeing a pony, huh?" the human doctor asks you with a laugh, "Happens to all of us."
"Where... Am I?" you ask the doctor, "I was in the hospice, and..."
>"You had stage 4 lymphoma, we found you near a portal and fixed you up over the last week. You can thank Princess Purplebutt for that."
"Portal? Princess Purplebutt?"
>A thousand thoughts race through your mind.
>Where are you?
>How did they cure you?
>What is that dog-horse thing?
"Am I in the future?" you blurt out.
>The doctor laughs for about half a minute before looking you in the eyes.
>"Even better, welcome to Equestria."