The tree didn't say much at first. Most of it was about how my day went and how it, itself, was feeling. I would have questioned this scenario but, then again, less of life’s happenings these days seemed to matter to me. Whether or not I was going crazy was out of the question. The only thing that mattered was that someon..thing wanted to talk with me. I actually enjoyed our conversations as they grew. It was the greatest feeling in the world. The conversations were something I looked forward to every time I visited the tree. Apparently, it looked forward to the same thing. Maybe the other trees were not good listeners much like the ponies in the village. Sometimes I would not get an answer at all, but that was to be expected as it was an inanimate object. I couldn't expect it to lend an ear every time (if it had an ear).
Many days, weeks, and months were spent in this manner – just me talking to this tree. Then, one day I realized how dumb it was and started to question what I was doing. Am I really this crazy that talking to a tree is my main means of escaping the waking reality? No, this whole thing that I'm doing is just plain stupid. Talking to inanimate objects is not something one should do to sort out social issues. So, I stopped talking to the tree over time even when it kept asking me what was the matter. I even started visiting the tree less and less. It was better to distance myself from that temptation. The dream I had of the cliff seemed more real than this. That dream could provide the happiness I so desired. I have to say that my dream was much more inviting than this insanity of talking with a tree on the edge of a forest. Closing my eyes - even when not dreaming - I could clearly see my sleep's proposition. There was the beautiful sky with its sun (that seemed to be setting as time went on), the most liberating view of a sky one could ever see, the invitation, comfort, and warmth of our princess's outline in the shining sun, and the urge to take the dive letting the open waters below carry me away...far away.
One day, while browsing a local shop selling cutlery, I got the strongest urge. It was undeniable at this point having seen most of what this life could have ever offered me. That day I decided to visit the tree for one last attendance. Give it what it wants and then get I want. I talked to it for a while...a long time to be precise about normal happenings between our lives. When the time felt right, I took out the knife I had bought. I looked at it for a only a few moments as I didn't want to lose the drive to do what needed to be done. I put it to my throat, took a few deep breaths, and counted to three. In those three seconds, I imagined every little detail of my dream as inviting now as it could ever be. So inviting, in fact, I felt myself smiling with the first bit of happiness I could ever feel from the unforgiving, cold, and cruel world. A single tear produced itself from my left eye. I don't why. I certainly didn't feel sad as this was the moment I had waited for since my 'humble' beginnings.
Before I could do anything, I found myself on the ground with the knife at my side after being tackled by this Pegasus with a white coat. Her face was wracked with so much confusion and grief that I was, myself, confused as to her portrayed appearance.
“What are doing?” she said to me. “Don’t do that! You scared me half to death!”
“Who are you?” I replied.
“Who am I!? Are you okay in the head? I’m the one who was just talking to you a minute ago!”
“You? I was talking to the tree…”
“Tree?” She looked behind her at the tree and back at me. “That thing? No. I was sitting up in my cloud like I always do waiting to talk to my friend.”
Friend? I thought. What friend? There's no one else out here but me...Is it me she's talking about? In fact, her voice is the same as the tree's. Realization slapped me in the face harder than a forty lb. trash bag half-filled with bricks.
Surprised I said, “So I was talking to you the whole time these past months?” I felt sudden embarrassment and confusion for not realizing this sooner.
“Yes! I’ve been on my cloud every time you came by. You were always looking down which is why you probably never saw me. You need to look up more!”
I apologized repeatedly for what she had almost witnessed. I came out to this place of privacy doing what needed to be done with a means of not causing grief to those around me. The shame of the situation was overbearing. I couldn’t bring myself to touch the knife again. It was the first time in my life I felt filth clinging to my body that couldn't be washed away for days. We hung out a lot from that day on but we never went back to the tree. It was great to finally have a friend again. I now had somepony to talk to when times were good and when times were bad. In fact, this was the second happiest thing that happened to me in my waking reality. She was so beautiful with her white coat, blonde mane, and green eyes. She was similar in all respects to our princess Celestia. No amount of sadness kept me down when she was near. Sometimes, when I said goodbye just after parting ways for a single day, I would watch her go in the direction of the sun until her outline had shone brilliantly in its rays and casted a much familiar warmth. I could say that this is the end of the story but we all know how time changes all things.
I wish I could say ‘The End’ and only good things happened from then on. However, I still had the dreams and every time they came, it was more inviting. Keep in mind, friendships never last for me so eventually she left for her own Flight Academy endeavors. Like I said, friendships don't last more than a year for me. I was all alone again with only my dreams as company. I only had two moments in my life worth true happiness. Was it worth it to wait around for the third? I doubted she would come back though she said she would. There are some things I'm willing to chance but inevitably of a failed long-distance friendship is not one. I left a note just in case she does come back. If you see her, tell her I’m sorry. She and our princess Celestia are the only true memories of happiness obtained in a miserable waking reality.
*****
The body of a pony was found one early morning in their own house. It was found only because of the stench of weekly decomposition. If not for the odd smell emitting the establishment, nopony would had taken notice. There was no name on the pony or in its possession. None of the neighbors knew the pony’s name either. In fact, very little was known about this pony even with those who were talked to by this pony on a daily basis. There were no pictures either be it family, close ones, or friends. The only thing found was a note left behind for ‘The white-coated Pegasus.’
When the Pegasus found out from overhearing the local news, she immediately rushed back to the village. She could not fathom that her friend would be so foolish as to commit the said act of suicide told by news reporters. She was given a single note with one simple distinguished sentence to which she immediately was set to tears. Those who had read the note didn’t understand as the note seemed like gibberish to them. Nonetheless, they could feel something terrible had occurred that only this white-coated pegasus could understand.
*****
A lonely ordinary tree was standing where it had always stood on the edge of its neighboring forest. It wasn't expecting a visitor this day but received one anyways when a white-coated Pegasus walked up to and sat next to it. She looked out to her surroundings wishing for a time spent to come back. Looking around with feverish hope, she was hoping to catch a glimpse or hear that familiar voice. It never came. Nothing but silence echoed through the empty surroundings. At one moment, the silhouette of a fellow pegasus appeared upon the grass. Looking up, she saw princess Celestia for a fleeting moment. That is until the princess flew over her head. For at that moment, when the princess was directly above her, she felt something hit her cheek somewhat moist. The surrealistic atmosphere was a lot to take in so she continued to monitor her empty environment. She kept thinking to herself, All I want to do is see my friend once more. I never got to say goodbye. After a long while, she let out a deep sigh and, with tears in her eyes, looked once more at the note in her hoof that read: “Thank you for being my special ‘tree’ and 'shining' happiness and warmth my way.”