Kayla woke up and peeked outside. It was still dark, and her mother was sound asleep. She took the quietness as a sign for the perfect opportunity. She quietly but swiftly made her way into the family bathroom. She closed her eyes to not have to see her reflection and pulled the mirror revealing an assortment of medicine. She then grabbed the advil and poured a handful of the pills into her palm then swallowed them. She went back to bed hoping to never wake up.
Kayla was diagnosed with clinical depression, and she has been caught attempting suicide numerous times. Her father left before she was ever born, so she never knew him. She lived alone with her mother her entire life. Her mother took away everything she used in her many suicidal attempts: knives, ropes, plastic bags, car keys, lighters, matches, and various electronics. Her mother was planning on installing a lock on the medicine cabinet, but Kayla got to it first.
***
When the sun rose, Kayla’s mother, Sabrina, went to check on her. She found her daughter asleep. She shook her gently to wake her up, but unlike any other night where she got up, she remained unmoved. She checked her pulse fearing she would feel nothing. There was a pulse, but it didn’t calm Sabrina’s nerves. The pulse was fast and unsteady.
Sabrina called the ambulance immediately and waited for them to come. When the ambulance arrived, the medics gave Kayla shots and took her to the ambulance. She was still asleep and unaware of everything around her. When she woke up, she found herself in the hospital with her mother sitting on the chair next to her bed.
“What were you thinking, Kayla?!” Sabrina asked angrily.
Kayla didn’t answer. She was too upset to say a word.
“Every psychologist and psychiatrist I take you to never help you! What am I going to do with you?” Sabrina asked, tearing up.
Kayla shrugged. The hours before Kayla was released from the hospital crawled by in silence. Sabrina drove to Doctor Westworth, Kayla’s current psychologist, and requested to talk to her.
“Hello. My daughter is still attempting suicide. When is the earliest you can make an appointment for her?” Sabrina asked.
Doctor Westworth sighed, “Kayla’s depression is worse than any of my patients, I’m sorry, but you should find someone more specialized. I can’t help her.”
“Thanks anyways,” Sabrina said, disappointed. She knew Kayla’s problem was bad after one psychologist gave up. Doctor Westworth was in fact the third psychologist who gave up. She didn’t know what to do.
The two girls walked back to the car, but they were stopped by a bubbly girl with pink hair. She appeared to be an adult, but she acted like a child. “I can help your daughter,” She told Sabrina, cheerfully.
“We talked to doctors specialized in depression, and none of them help. What makes you think you will help?” Sabrina asked.
“Unlike the doctors who help her, I have better ideas. I certainly won’t keep her cooped up in a tiny office because that is so booring! No. I’m going to cheer her up. The best part, it’s free!” The girl talked fast, but Sabrina understood everything she said.
“You can help my daughter?” Sabrina asked.
“Yes indeedy!” The girl said smiling. “My name is PInkie Pie by the way.”
“I’m Sabrina, and my daughter here is Kayla. " Sabrina didn't know why she was talking to such a childish woman, but she was.
Pinkie held out her right hand liking at Kayla. Kayla didn't take the hand, though. She continued looking at the ground.
"Come with me!" Pinkie said cheerfully. The two followed her to a table under a tree. "This looks like a nice place. Kayla, what makes you happy?"
"Nothing," Kayla replied. She was avoiding eye contact with Pinkie.
"We will figure that out." Pinkie looked at Sabrina," this should only take a few hours, but I don't know for sure. Give me your number so I can call you when we're done. "
Sabrina wrote her phone number on a piece of paper. "I can't believe I'm trusting a stranger."
"I won't let anything happen to your daughter. I promise. Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." As she made the promise, she made a slash across her chest, flapped her hand, and hit her eye.
With that, Sabrina left leaving Kayla and Pinkie alone. Pinkie told Kayla to follow her and led her to a valley with a rope going to the other side. There was a wheeled contraption on the rope. Pinkie grabbed it.
"Don't worry about anything. It's quick, so your hands won't hurt. The rope is designed to create friction so you will stop gently. " Pinkie reassured her.
Kayla was nervous. There was no way she would trust a stranger on something like that. Still, she watched Pinkie slide down the rope. She saw the contraption coming back towards her and grabbed it.
"It's going to be ok!" Pinkie told her. She closed her eyes and picked up her feet. Instantly, she felt wind rushing passed her body. It ended just as quickly as it began, and she found herself on the other side with Pinkie.
"How are we going to get back?" Kayla asked.
"There's a beautiful cave near here," Pinkie answered.
Pinkie started walking, and Kayla followed her. They got to a meadow, and Pinkie sat down, pulled a cupcake out of her bag and passed it to Kayla.
Kayla almost shook her head refusing, but her hunger was too powerful. She ate the cupcake and sat under a tree. She gazed at a few flowers.
"Those are tulips," Pinkie told her.
"They're beautiful," Kayla admitted.
"The picnic is ready. Do you want me to move it here so you can eddy near the flowers?" Pinkie offered.
Kayla finally made eye contact. Pinkie's blue eyes were bright showing her cheerfulness and bubbly, optimistic personality.
Kayla nodded, and Pinkie pulled the blanket towards the tree. Kayla was amazed at how nothing on the blanket fell over.
"I made sandwiches," Pinkie said offering Kayla one.
Kayla took it and took a bite. "This is really good," she said. She smiled slightly, and Pinkie jumped for joy.
Suddenly, rain started falling down wiping the smile off her face.
"Just my luck," Kayla muttered.
"You seem to like the flowers," Pinkie Pie pointed out.
"Yeah. So?" Kayla said grumpily.
"If there was no rain, the flowers will never bloom. Well, they wouldn't even grow in the first place. " Pinkie told her.
Kayla's smile returned, "I guess you're right. "
Pinkie ran to a small puddle and jumped in it. Kayla watched Pinkie play around and was amazed how someone can be so carefree at her age. Kayla decided to play with her.
The two laughed and played together until the rain stopped. The laughing continued, though.
After the laughing died down, Pinkie got up and helped Kayla up. "We should go. The cave is beautiful." Pinkie stopped to dig her hand in her bag and pulled something out. "I want you to have this," she said giving Kayla a bag will several smaller bags of seeds and a bag of soil, "You should grow your own garden. I know how much you like flowers."
"Thanks, Pinkie," Kayla said smiling.
"Do you want me to carry the bag for you?" Pinkie offered.
"Please," Kayla replied.
Pinkie put the bag of seeds and soil back into her bag, and the two girls made their way to the cave. Kayla looked at the mouth of the cave nervously. But Pinkie grabbed a flashlight and entered.
Kayla followed her and looked around at the limestone covered walls of the cave. The stalactites and stalagmites gleamed slightly as the light from Pinkie's flashlight hit them. As the cave came to an end, crystals were seen growing near the walls. Kayla took in all the beauty and made a mental note to return there soon.
Pinkie and Kayla made their way back to the table where Pinkie talked to Sabrina at. Pinkie then gave Kayla the bag and a cupcake and pulled out her phone and called Sabrina. Then they waited until Sabrina showed up.
"I want her to see me next Wednesday at four in the afternoon. Pay attention to her," Pinkie told Sabrina. She turned to look at Kayla, "Remember, water helps the flowers bloom."
Sabrina smiled, "Thank you very much. Is here good?"
"That will be perfect!" Pinkie examined smiling.
Kayla returned the smile, and she and her mother walked back to the car.
***
When Wednesday came, Kayla and Sabrina returned to the table and found that Pinkie Pie was already there. Kayla ran to hug Pinkie who returned the hug.
"How has Kayla been?" Pinkie asked Sabrina.
"She improved a lot," Sabrina replied, "She had been working on her garden with the seeds you gave her, and she spends her time drawing flowers. She has been more active, and she hasn't attempted suicide one. It's nice to see her laugh, too. I don't know how you did that, but you helped my daughter."
"They say to show, not tell," Pinkie said sticking her hand into her bag, "but a lot of psychologists do the opposite. I showed her the great things in life instead of just telling her they exist." Pinkie pulled out a diary and handed it to Kayla. She then told her, You should write down every good thing that happens to you. "
"I'm shocked," Sabrina admitted, "I didn't know it was possible to cure depression in a day."
Pinkie laughed, "It's not unless the one curing it represents the element of laughter."
Kayla and Sabrina looked at Pinkie in confusion.
"Nothing," Pinkie said. She then gave Kayla a pink board with "To" written on the top left corner of one side and "From" Written on the top left corner on the flip side. She put it down with the "To" side facing up. "Write what you want to tell me on this side and flip it over when you are done. Everything I write will appear on the back side." Kayla took the board.
"This isn't even possible," Sabrina said, "you can't communicate with a board.
Pinkie looked at Sabrina and laughed, "This is a small town, and you've seen everyone here. I'm sure you would remember seeing me if I lived here. I didn't just pass by here and coincidentally saw you two. I am Pinkie Pie, the spirit of laughter. That's why you trusted me with your daughter when you first met me, that's why I had a bag of flower seeds and soil even though I don't even grow flowers, that is why Kayla and I can communicate with a board, and that is why her depression was cured overnight." Pinkie stopped to look at the shock on Sabrina's face then continued, "None of this was a coincidence. I knew Kayla was in trouble, and I came here to help her." With that, Pinkie skipped away cheerfully. Sabrina swore she saw a pink pony appear before Pinkie was out of sight.
***
Ten years after Kayla met Pinkie, her life was great. She was a floral botanist, and she was happily married with two little girls. She continued to stay in touch with Pinkie. She told her daughters the story of how Pinkie Pie turned her life around. They didn't believe it, but nonetheless, they enjoyed hearing their mother tell it.
Sabrina tucked in her girls and walked downstairs and grabbed one of her many diaries and flipped through it. She was happy that a lot of good things happened in her life. She was thankful that she met Pinkie. Without her, she wouldn't have ever been this happy with her life.
The End
