>You are Deep Rest.
>A younger self of her at least.
>This is the time before you earned your cutie mark.
>And, the time where you, your father, and your mother were having such a great time together as one big family.
>Your father would give you piggyback rides and your mother would watch in the distance with a smile on her face.
>And you would never drop that smile from your face!
>...
>That is...
>Until winter blew over Ponyville and covered the entire town with thick sheets of snow...
>You are looking over your sick father, who is lying on your parent's bed, and has been there for almost two weeks now.
>During those two weeks, you could never stop worrying about your father's health.
>Your mother has given some medicine to him to see if it helps...
>But, it looks like the medicine just delays father's sickness.
"Daddy..."
>With a concerned look on your face, you look at him.
"Are you... going to be okay?"
>He could only turn his head at you and weakly smile.
>"Of course, Rest... it's just a nasty cold," your father said.
"But... what if it's not?"
>He slowly shakes his head at you, "I will be okay, Rest... trust me..."
>You cast your head down.
"... O-Okay..."
>He then looks over at the clock behind you, looks back at you, and frowns.
>"Honey... you should get some sleep... it's almost past your bedtime..." your father said.
"Will Mom be watching over you for tonight?"
>He weakly nods, and your mother walks up from behind you.
>You then look at your mother, and see her smiling at you.
>She has bags under her eyes and looks like she could use some sleep for herself.
>"Come on, Rest. Time for bed," your mother said.
"Yes Mom..."
>You then look at your father and weakly smile at him.
"... Good night, Daddy..."
>"Good night... Rest," your father said.
>Your mother leads you to your room, which is just across from your parent's bedroom.
>You then walk over to your bed, climb on top of it, and you let your mother tuck you in.
 
"Mom?"
>"Yes, Rest?" your mother said, as she is smiling at you while petting your mane.
>When you try to speak to her, there is an uneasy feeling on your chest.
"Will... will Daddy be okay?"
>Your mother closes her eyes and nods, "He's strong, Rest... he'll overcome it..."
>... You are not sure if your mother was confident on saying that...
>You could only nod at your mother in acknowledgement.
>"I need to get back to your father now..." your mother said.
>She gives a small peck on your forehead.
"Good night, Mom..."
>"Good night, Rest," she said as she walks over to the door.
>Your mother turns off the lights, walks out of the room, and slightly closes the door.
>You shift around on the bed for a while until you feel comfortable.
>The warmth of the blanket and the comfiness of both the pillow and the bed help you sleep easier during the winter times.
>You yawn, close your eyes, and slowly drift into sleep.
>...
>"... ut honey... what about our daughter?"
>You slowly wake up on your bed.
>Something... or some pony woke you up...
>There is still light coming from your parent's bedroom.
>And... that was your father speaking.
>"It's not about her!" said your mother, "It's you!"
>Are they... arguing?
>"Honey... what only matters... is our daughter..." your father said.
>"But, what about you...?"
>"..."
>You then notice your parent's door closing, some words that you could not hear, and the lights shutting off...
>What matters about you?
>Did you do something wrong?
>... Maybe you can ask them in the morning after you wake up.
>...
 
>You slowly wake up and climb out of bed.
>You do your usual morning routine: bathroom, shower, dry off, comb hair...
>After the routine is done, you head downstairs and smell some food being cooked.
>You walk over to the kitchen and see your mother cooking some eggs and hash browns.
>She looks like she's done cooking and she brings one plate over to you.
>You also see that there are cups of water at the table.
>"Good morning, Rest," your mother said.
"Good morning, Mom..."
>You take a seat and begin to eat your breakfast meal.
>She then carries a hot bowl of vegetable soup for father and brings it upstairs to him.
>You sit in the kitchen alone and eating breakfast...
>... Mother has been working hard after your father got sick from this cold winter...
>She is a businessmare and works to make a profit for the company... and for the family.
>After father got caught being sick, she had to work twice as hard and had to work overtime...
>... On one hoof, you wish she could spend time with you and father.
>But, on the other hoof, it is okay that mother has to work very hard to keep this family going...
>You hear your mother coming back down and walks in the kitchen.
>"Rest... Mommy has to go back to work for today... so just relax and look over Daddy, okay?"
>After finishing your breakfast, you could only nod at her.
>She would have wanted you to understand if you didn't want her to go.
"Yes Mom..."
>Mother smiles at you and hugs you, and you hug back.
>You wish this hug could just melt this winter season right now...
>Mother breaks the warm embrace, and gets ready to leave the house.
>...
>Your mother has her winter coat on, her scarf, her hat, and briefcase, and she is ready to go to work.
>"I will see you tonight, Rest," she said, "There is some lunch for you and Daddy to eat in the fridge."
"Okay..."
>"Bye Rest! And don't forget to bring in the mail!" your mother said.
"Goodbye Mom! And I won't!"
>She walks out of the door and closes it, and trots to work.
 
>After waving your mother goodbye, you begin to pace around the house.
>Because... that's really the only thing you could do in your free time.
>Pacing helps you think and remember the great times you, your father, and your mother had together.
>Your father would chase you around the house, pretending to be a scary monster.
>Or, you and your father would play hide and seek together since your home is a little messy.
>Your mother, carefree and not overworking, would be watching the two of you having fun with that smile on her face.
>You remember one time having trouble with finding your father in a game of hide and seek.
>Your mother gave you silent hints of where he was, but even after finding him, your father surprised you.
>All was fun...
>But... now you only pace around the house, looking for something to do.
>Your father is sick upstairs, school does not start until next week, and there is nothing fun to do at home anymore...
>Maybe you should check on him...
>You walk upstairs to your parent's bedroom and knock on the door three times.
>"Come in..." your father said.
>You open the door and walk in.
>Your father, still lying on the bed, sees you and coughs in his arm.
>You also see next to your father an empty bowl. That must be his vegetable soup.
>"Good morning... Rest..." he said as you walk next to him.
"Good morning, Daddy... how are you feeling?"
>"... I could be better... but... this is nothing for now..."
"Do you think you'll be better when winter time is done?"
>"... I hope so, dear..."
"... I just want to see you better so that... we could spend more time together..."
>Your father coughs in his arm, "I know... It's just time, Rest..."
"What if... there won't be time...?"
>You cast your head down as you start to fear the worst...
>"Rest... look at me..."
>You look up to your father, who is also looking at you with his weak smile.
 
>"Please do not think that way... I know you are stronger than that..."
>He looks away and coughs. After coughing, he looks back at you.
>"Believe in your mother and me... and after I get better... we can have fun together... like the past times..."
>You smile at your father.
>He's right... you should believe in him...
>You can't be moping around your father!
"Okay Daddy!"
>"There... that's the Rest I know..." he said.
>He looks away and coughs more.
>"I'm sorry, Rest... but, I need some sleep..."
>You nod at him.
"I understand. Let me take this bowl away from you."
>You grab the bowl and walk out of his room.
>"Thank you, Rest..."
>You set the empty bowl on the ground so you can slightly close your father's door.
>After doing so, you pick up the bowl, walk downstairs, and place it in the sink at the kitchen.
>... You hope he gets better soon.
>You look at the clock in the kitchen and see it is eleven-thirty in the morning.
>You guess you should take a nap also.
>After checking if the door is locked, you walk upstairs to your room.
>You hop on your bed, tuck yourself in, and slowly drift into sleep.
>...
>Four o'clock in the afternoon.
>You look out the window and wait for the mailpony to come back for your daily mail.
>Even during the harsh weather, they still deliver the mail to other ponies in Equestria.
>'Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail...'
>That's all you can remember in one of their mail mottos.
>You see a pegasus, in a delivery uniform and carrying a sack full of mail, fly down to your house and walk towards your door.
>You recognize that stallion as one of your father's friends.
>He usually calls him... Wind?
>After the pegasus knocks on your door, you walk up to the door and slightly open it.
>You did not want all of the heat to escape from the house, and you look up at the pegasus.
>The pegasus has a heavy winter coat and a scarf. Even with that winter gear, you can see him slightly shivering.
 
>"Hello Rest!" the pegasus said to you
"Hello..."
>"I got the mail for you and your parents here..."
>He looks over the sack of mail and uses his wing to pull out some envelopes and letters.
>"How's your father doing?" the pegasus said.
"He's... getting better... hopefully."
>"I'm sure he'll be fine. He's a fighter after all! He can get out of almost anything! Heh, maybe even jail!"
"Jail?"
>"Well... it's a joke, don't worry. Here's the mail."
>He gives you the mail and you set the letters at the coffee table in the living room.
"Thank you sir..."
>"Of course! I have to get going now, but tell your father to get well soon!"
>You and the pegasus wave goodbye at each other, and the pegasus walks off before flying away from your home.
>You close the door, lock it, and look back at the mail.
>After walking over to the mail, you look at each of them.
>Most of them look like junk mail and bills... but, you see one letter is out of the ordinary.
>It has a golden seal and it is for mother.
>The letter looks important and it would be a wise idea to not open it.
>But... your curiosity might get the better of you...
>No.
>You're not like that. And, your mother wouldn't like that either.
>You leave the mail alone and look at the clock.
>Four ten in the afternoon.
>You wish time could go faster... there really is nothing to do at home...
>You sit in the living room, waiting for your mother to come home from work...
 
>Eight thirty at night.
>You hear the front door knocking and you immediately rush over to open it.
>Your mother is standing on the other side of the door with a smile on her face.
"Mom!"
>"Hello dear..." your mother said.
>You stand aside and let your mother walk in.
>After closing the door, she hangs her coat, scarf, and hat on the coat rack and looks over at you.
>You run up to her and give her a hug, welcoming her back.
>"How have you been, Rest?" your mother asked.
"... Bored as usual here... And, I've been taking care of Daddy."
>"Is he okay?"
>You nod at her and she smiles, "Good..."
>After the hug, she walks over to the mail at the coffee table and looks over each letter.
>She then picks up the letter that has the golden seal and opens it.
>"What's this...?" your mother whispers to herself.
>You are also curious, but you were taught that it is rude to look over somepony's shoulder.
>Your mother reads the letter and... widens her eyes.
>You notice that she reads the paper again.
>When she is done reading it the third time, she looks at you with her widened eyes.
"Mom? ... What's wrong?"
>"... It's... nothing, Rest..."
>She closes the letter, goes up to you, and pats you on the head.
>"Have... you and your father eaten dinner?"
>You nod. It was just some leftovers made by your mother left in the fridge.
>"Good."
>After the patting, she heads upstairs with the briefcase and letter and goes to the bedroom.
>... Something is wrong...
>You make sure all of the lights are off downstairs and the door is locked.
>After checking everything, you head upstairs and slowly walk to your bedroom.
>"... what are we going to tell her? What am I going to tell her...?" your mother said in her bedroom.
>Her?
>"Honey... you know it is... for the best..." your father said.
>"For the best? How is she going to help you? How will she take care of herself this weekend...?"
>Are they... talking about you?