Happiness.
The one thing I could never buy.
Most things I wanted I could buy.
Friends? I bought them.
Clothes? I bought them.
Good grades? I bought them.
But happiness? That can never be bought.
While the things I could buy brought me happiness the feeling itself never stayed long, always leaving me, never a constant in my life.
And my life was generally miserable.
Sure, I may have a big fancy house, with a big closet of fancy clothes, but none of it brought me happiness.
Sometimes I would look down at the children playing in the street and I would feel jealous.
They had less money than me, I knew that for a fact as i was the wealthiest pony in my town, but they had the one thing that I wanted so desperately.
Happiness.
And they were swimming in the stuff.
Even up on the second floor of my house, leaning out of the window, I could feel the happiness pouring off of them.
And it made me sad to think that if i hadn't done the things I did, those many moons ago, I might have had the happiness I so very desperately wanted.
As i watched, one of the Pegasus ponies kicked the ball to hard and it sailed over my high fence and into my yard.
I could hear the groans and mutterings of disappointed ponies as i rushed down the stairs trying to get to the ball outside.
I don't know why this urge came over me, but it did and I felt compelled to follow it.
Just as it reached the door I slowed down and walked calmly, opened the door and out to where the ball was sitting.
"Hey mister. Could you please pass us our ball?" one of the kids yelled at me from across the road.
I picked up the ball in one of my hooves and tucked it under my armpit as I walked over to my wrought iron gate.
Carefully i opened the gate and the Pegasus who had kicked the ball flew swiftly over to me.
"Here ya go," I said as I placed the ball in his outstretched hooves, "just be more careful next time."
This made him smile sheepishly and I felt a smile grace my face with its presence.
When this happened I thought to myself that's the first time I've smile in a long while.
Hearing the kid speak to me again brought me back to reality.
"Thanks mister. I promise I'll try not to overdo it again"
Once again his sheepish grin made me smile.
He quickly ran back across the road to where his friends were waiting and as they walked away I could see the smiles on their faces as they waved at me in thanks.
I smiled and waved back at them.
Now those are true friends, I thought to myself as i walked back inside my big empty house.
I felt happier than i had in a long time.
Maybe this time would be different.
Maybe happiness will stay this time.
My final thought as i crept into my bed and fell asleep was, We can only hope