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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.
"Are you alright, Gemma?" Shadow asked softly, holding her close if she needed to cry.
"No," she closed her eyes. It didn't make a difference if she closed them or not. It was darkness all the same. "I just wish--" she sighed, and huddled against the wall, suddenly very tired. "I just wish I could be who everyone expects me to be."