“Hey Turq! You in there?”
 
Her eyes slowly fluttered open as she heard the familiar voice calling her name. Turquoise Edge didn’t know how long she’d been sleeping, or what time it was—she never did these days, really—but she could recognize the voice outside her door any day: Hawk Eye.
 
“Come on out! We haven’t seen you in forever!”
 
And Fire Opal.
 
It was true, they hadn’t seen each other in awhile. Not since the funeral. It all came back to Turquoise, how Hawk had promised to be there for her. What kind of sister was she to not do the same for him? For Opal? It was like she had completely forgotten about both of them after…everything that happened. She had no excuse for being such a terrible sister. She had to answer the door, at the very least, no matter how tired she was.
 
“Hello! Anypony home?”
 
Turquoise heaved herself out of bed and brushed her mane up into a lopsided bun to at least look like she was put together…after all, she didn’t want them worrying about her. They probably had enough to deal with on their own. She made her way across the dark, gloomy house and was practically blinded by the bright sunshine as she opened the door.
 
“Turq!” Hawk immediately pulled her into a hug. “There you are! Glad to see ya!”
 
“Hey.”
 
Opal towered over both of them with a grin. “How’ve you been?”
 
“Fine,” Turquoise forced a halfhearted smile, even though she knew she was lying. “Doing just great.”
 
“You sure?” Hawk paused for a moment, squinting suspiciously at her. “I dunno sis, you don’t look so good.”
 
“Have you even slept?” Opal asked.
 
Oh shit. They could see right through her. Turquoise should’ve known; the bags under her eyes and her tired posture were a dead giveaway from the start. She was a terrible actor. But she also didn’t want a pity party, especially from her own siblings. They wouldn’t understand anyway.
 
“I’m fine,” she growled.
 
“Is this about Dad?” Hawk placed a hoof on her shoulder.
 
Turquoise winced. Of course it was about Dad. It was about a lot of things, actually. She didn’t want to think about it. She didn’t want to feel anymore. And she certainly didn’t want their pity.
 
“What about Mel? Is it about her?” Opal asked, almost blatantly oblivious. “Or Holly and Fafa? It’s been a long time since we’ve seen any of them, Turq! Ever since you got divor~~”
 
“SHUT UP!” Turquoise slapped Hawk’s hoof away before even thinking. There it was again: the memories. Her Dad in the coffin, Mel and her new husband, all of it came rushing back to her before she could control it. She didn’t want to think about any of it, it was all just too painful. And here Hawk and Opal were, sauntering in just to dig up old trauma. As if they actually understood what she’s been through.
 
“Ducky, relax. Opal just meant~~”
 
“DON’T CALL ME DUCKY!” She shoved Hawk out of the doorway, not even seeing his hurt expression through the tears that welled up in her own eyes. She didn’t care anymore; she wanted both of them out before they could bring up any more painful memories. Before they could see her fall apart.
 
“Turq,” Hawk got back up and stared at her with pleading eyes. “Turq, I’m sorry. We’re both sorry. We just want to hel-”
 
“LEAVE! ME! ALONE!”
 
BANG!
 
The door slammed with a loud crack as Turquoise’s back hooves impacted the wood. She screamed at the top of her lungs, not even noticing the sound of shattering glass until she opened her eyes and saw the scene before her.
 
Their family picture. Completely shattered.
 
Turquoise walked up to the mess in shocked silence. Their family, their memories, broken apart and irreparable. And it was all her fault.
 
She hadn’t realized what she’d done until after it was over. The only ones who truly loved her, she had pushed them away. Just like she had pushed away everyone else she’d cared about. All these bridges she’d burned herself, all because she let her pride get in the way. And now it was too late.
 
All alone, Turquoise Edge sat down among the broken shards and cried. Cried for her parents, for her ex-lover, for her children, for her brother and her sister, all of whom she’d pushed away. Cried for everything she’d lost and would never get back.