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Gemma was stricken, her eyes wide. What was her mother saying? "No," she said, horrified. "No, I love you mommy, I always have," she backed away, frightened that her mother would even be saying these words to her. At the touch of Shadow, she turned around, smiling at her weakly before turning back to her mother and the new foal. Even the sight of a new brother or sister could not cheer her up.
Layla tried hard to believe it. "It's okay..." She whispered. "You won't get in trouble... And you don't have to pretend". "Gemma, maybe you should come nap." Shadow said softly.
Pretend? Pretend that she loved her own mother? For a moment Gemma gaped, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, but she wiped them away hurriedly. "I understand, mother," she whispered, hearing Layla's delighted murmurs to her new foal. "I understand." Even naive Gemma could hear that Layla was happy with her new foal, happier than she could ever be with a blind, weak little filly like herself. With a sigh, she gave one last smile at Layla, and climbed into Shadow's stall. She hoped that Layla's new family would give her more pleasure, and less pain, than she had.