The pink pony stood there transfixed. She was panting hard even though the morning air was cool and wet. She stared down at the light grey pony who had also stopped fiddling with some objects on the ground. Her sight shifted to his bandage, a constant reminder of his condition. Her usual smile had been replaced by a worried frown. He looked up, his face a look of shock. The pink pony smiled, her cotton-candy mane bouncing slowly in the slight breeze. His face instantly brightened and he smiled back. He noticed she had brought a balloon. He got to his hooves, stumbling a bit. He felt weaker than before. He didn't care though, his thoughts were now only about the pink pony. He stepped towards her, both of them locking eyes. He saw her bottom lip quiver a bit and her eyes start to tear up as she stared at his headband. He thought he should fix that. He hugged her tightly and she grinned madly. He noticed her and instantly withdrew, blushing with embarrassment. She stepped back and tried to regain her composure but gave up and threw her arms around him with a small cry. She breathed in, his scent was troubling, hospital-sterile but still warm and alive. He turned bright red as her mane tickled him. She whispered to him that she got here as fast as she could when she had heard the news.
"Thanks, Pinkie." He said.
Her response was to hug him tighter.
She finally broke away, her eyes a bit teary. The grey pony became worried. He looked at Pinkie intently, searching her eyes. Pinkie's tail twitched, showing that she was uncomfortable. He ignored her. She was hiding something from him.
She broke away from his gaze and stared at the damp grass. "Is something wrong, Seil?"
Seil's eyes dropped. He stared at his hooves. "Nothing," he managed to say, "It's just that it's been quite sometime since we've seen each other." His eyes flashed upward, waiting for Pinkie to respond.
"Oh, yes. It has been quite a while," she whispered, as if ashamed to admit it. Her face suddenly brightened, "You know what? We have a lot of catching up to do." She giggled as she took his hoof. "Would you like to go for a walk?"
"Yes,” he looked up at the beautiful pink pony. “I would love to.”
As the two young ponies trotted away, the balloon's string loosened, and eventually untied itself. It floated above them, disappearing into the grey fall sky.
***
Seil lay in his bed, his eyes closed, his mind wandering. He felt a small shadow creep across his face and he blinked his eyes open. There were another pair of eyes staring right back at him.
"AH!" he yelped, falling off his bed and landing on his back.
Pinkie wore a worried expression now as she pulled the rest of herself in through the window. "I'm so sorry Seil!" She rushed over to him, "Are you alright?" Her eyes searching his face for any signs of something wrong.
"Quick!" she blurted. "How many hooves am I holding up?"
Seil tried his best to make himself go cross eyed. "Twelve?" he said in mock confusion.
Pinkie's face flushed with relief and she honked his nose. "You kidder! You had me worried sick!" she tried, and failed, to make herself sound angry.
Seil giggled and made big, sad puppy eyes. "I'm sorry," he whimpered, making his eyes grow even rounder.
Pinkie giggled, placing a hoof on his chest. "Look at you," she mused, "You look so darn cute I could just-" She cut herself off, quickly looking away.
"Just what?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly, taking her hoof off of his chest. Seil lifted himself up part way up so that he lay on his side. "I actually came to ask you if you wanted to go do something." Pinkie grinned.
Seil tried to mask the disappointment on his face. "Like?" He forced himself to smile.
Pinkie smiled that charming smile of hers. "I have a few ideas..."
She extended her hoof. Seil grabbed it and pulled himself up. Pinkie then trotted around the bed and jumped out the window again. Seil stuck his head out.
"Isn't it safer if we use the front door?" he asked.
Pinkie reached out and yanked him through the window, "You silly goose, where's the fun in that?"
Seil landed with a thump on top of Pinkie, both of his eyes closed. He opened one eye slightly, then, his eyes flew open as he realized how close his muzzle was to Pinkie's. His face turned a violent red and he started to feel lightheaded. Pinkie also blushed, and she touched his nose with hers. Seil's heart beat hard in his chest. He hoped Pinkie wouldn't notice.
"Well," Pinkie said coyly, "Aren't you going to help me up? Or would you rather stay in this position?" her suggestive smile only made Seil blush harder.
He quickly rolled off of her and extended his hand out to help her. She smiled up at him. She stood up beside him, shuffling her feet. She smiled suddenly, back to her bubbly self, and asked him if he wanted to play pirates. Seil nodded.
“But first,” she said, walking a circle around him. “We need to get you some pirate gear.”
Seil thought for a moment. He tried to look at his forehead and he reached up with his hoof. “I
do have this bandage,” he said after a moment's thought. “Maybe we could decorate it?”
Pinkie jumped up and down with excitement and nodded. “Yes! And I have just the things we need.” She dashed off.
Seil watched longingly as she left.
***
“Alright,” Pinkie set down her brush. She stepped back to look at her work. “We're done!” She smiled brightly at Seil who smiled back. “Now you look like a pirate,” she said, “a handsome pirate at that.” Her eyes twinkled as she winked at him playfully.
Seil knew she was just playing around, but he wished she wasn't. He stepped off the makeshift platform Pinkie had made and trotted over to the window. His reflection on the glass smiled at him. He looked at his now brightly decorated bandage. Dashes of yellow, blue, and pink adorned it. He smiled again. Pinkie walked over to him, smiling.
“Do ya like it?” she asked.
Seil turned to look at her.
“It's beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
Moments later, he and Pinkie were sailing down the river on a small boat. Pinkie's boat. Seil looked over the edges carefully. Pinkie was braver than he was and she stood up on the front of the boat. He grinned at her as she pointed towards an imaginary island and shouted “Land ho!”. She looked back and smiled at him.
“Well, aren't ya gonna drop the anchor?” Her smile shone brightly in the noon sky. Seil quickly hurried over to the back of the boat and picked up a fairly heavy wooden anchor. He waddled over to the side of the boat with the anchor on his back and hoisted it over. He peeked over the side and caught a splash of water as the anchor hit the water. His bandage was soaked and it drooped over his eye. Pinkie caught sight of it and giggled.
“That's a very nice eye patch ya got there,” she smirked. “May I try it out?”
Seil trotted over to her. “Sure,” he said, passing it to her. “But be careful with it.” Pinkie caught it and placed it on her head.
“Oh I will.”
Grinning, she jumped over the boat and onto the shore of the small river. Seil stared open mouthed before catching on to the fact that she wanted him to catch her. A smile split his face as he jumped over the side and lunged at Pinkie who was waiting expectantly. She grinned as she turned around and ran. Seil raced after her with the goofy grin still plastered on his face.
They ran through the small park near his house. Raced past the town's abandoned post office. Slid down the railing of the public library's stairs. Seil was almost tuckered out but he was determined to win this race. Acting like school fillies, they ran through the town, their joy almost visibly streaking behind them. Several ponies stared after them in disappointment, but most chuckled at the sight of the grey pony racing the other one besides his condition.
The sky was darkening now, but they were already nearing his house, their race about to end. Pinkie suddenly decided to cut through some bushes near the side of Seil's house. Seil knew where she was headed. Their favourite spot. They called it “Sunset Hill”. Where they watched the sunset. Where he had almost told her how he felt towards her. Where she kissed his cheek.
Pinkie was almost there. Seil pushed himself harder as he sprinted up to the hill. He looked up. Pinkie had beaten him to the top. He frowned and filled himself with determination to get to the top. He was almost there. He smiled. He saw the sun glow behind Pinkie, outlining her body. Beautiful. His soul filled with ecstasy.
He placed one of his hooves down. He watched as it fumbled and twisted sideways. He felt no pain. It was as if he was watching it from a distance. He looked up and saw Pinkie. She was frowning. Did he do something wrong? He tried to take another step. His hoof slipped out from underneath him. His landed on his side. He saw his that legs lay unmoving. No. It was too soon. The doctor said he had a long ways to go. He wouldn't lie to him.
His eyes started to close. He was getting sleepy. Warmth embraced him as his eyes shut. He felt peaceful. He heard a shout. Who was that? The shout sounded farther away. They must be moving on. Something touched his side. It felt numb. He ignored it and let the darkness embrace him. Why was he even here? Who kept calling out his name? What was his name? Too many questions. His brain started to shut down.
It was all dark.
***
The skies broke. Rain poured down like waterfalls. Like Pinkie’s tears. They dripped on Pinkie's head as she watched Seil fall, horrified. She started running towards him. Every movement felt slow. She felt as though she would not reach him in time. She did.
She touched his side, waiting for a reaction. There was none. Tears slipped down her cheek, mixing with the harsh, cold rain. The tears hit Seil's face. The rain fell heavier. She picked him up, making sure he wouldn't fall, and ran. Ran as fast as she ever could. Her friend meant everything to her. Maybe he was more than a friend. She might never know.
Her hair, now drenched, drooped and clung to the side of her face. She struggled to see through them as she ran through town, hoping somepony would notice her and help her. Everyone had already gone inside. She was alone. She sprinted through the empty streets, still hoping she would find help. It was hard to see though. Her tears blurred her vision, sending her world into a kaleidoscope.
She spotted a sign ahead. Caligo Hospital. She shook her tears off. Seil's life depended on her. She burst through the doors. She cried for help. The secretary at the desk immediately started calling for the doctor. The pony rushed down to the lobby when he heard this. He knew Seil personally. He had been with him during his diagnostic.
It's too soon, he thought, too soon.
His assistant helped him take Seil off of Pinkie's back. Another wheeled a stretcher towards them. They placed Seil on it and started pushing him towards the Emergency Room. Pinkie quickly followed them. A security guard blocked her way. She knocked him down. Nothing would stop from being with Seil. Two more security guards jumped after her and grabbed her by her haunches. They held her back as she screamed out Seil's name over and over again.
“Seil! Seil!” She sobbed, the entirety of her body shaking with every yell. “SEIL!”
“Pinkie?” came the hoarse response.
That was all the motivation Pinkie needed to send her barrelling down the corridor. More guards lunged at her as she ran. They made contact and she went down. She still struggled, sobbing and whimpering.
“Get off me!” she screamed. “LET ME GO!”
Her desperate screaming soon turned into mournful sobs. A pony in white came towards her, a needle in hoof. She did not notice as he came up behind her. The sting from the needle made her pause. She shook her head for a minute. Her breaths coming in slow and deep. Her muscles relaxed. The ground looked strangely comfy.
It welcomed her with open arms.
***
Seil awoke. His mind started to feel around his body, making sure everything was there. The last things to check for were his eyes. He carefully opened them. He grinned. Pinkie was there. She stared at him, her eyes glistened with tears. He became worried. Why had she been crying? Suddenly she smiled. Her eyes crinkled and fresh tears streamed down.
“I thought you were gone,” she told him, tears still streaming down her cheeks. She didn't wait for his response. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. Seil blushed uncontrollably. He never would have expected this. He felt her tears dripping onto his back and running down it. He felt her warmth. Her body pressed against his. He was sure she would feel his heart pounding against his chest. If not, she would definitely hear it.
Then, she did something he least expected. She let go of him and held his head. She looked into his eyes intently.
And she kissed him.
Not a peck on the cheek, but deep and passionate. She seemed to be trying to tell him a thousand things at once, her emotions flowing into him. He felt the same way.
The moment lasted long. Seil liked it that way. For that one moment, he didn't care that he was dying. He cared about Pinkie. It will all be alright, he thought, everything.
Finally she broke away. She looked into his eyes again. Her cheeks a burning hot pink. She smiled. So did he.
***
The nights passed. The sun did its duty as it glided across the fall sky. Day after day, Pinkie visited. Never missing a day. Always there for him. Sometimes he'd have nightmares. He'd call out for Pinkie in his sleep. She decided to stay for the nights.
Sometimes she'd sing to him. Happy songs. Sad songs. His favourite was “You are My Sunshine”. She sang it so beautifully. It was the only song that could soothe him after a nightmare.
She was his sunshine. He was hers. He was at peace knowing that.
Week after week she came. Always faithful to Seil. His condition seemed to get better some days, only to strike back harder the next. Even though he lay bedridden, she always brought something for them to do. One day it was a karaoke machine. The other day a puzzle. She always encouraged him to try.
It was getting hard to breathe.
One dark morning, he overheard some nurses whispering outside his door. He strained to make out what they were saying. The door opened. A nurse wheeled in a large machine. He had seen it before. From somewhere. They brought in an assortment of cables and tubes and they attached them to various places on his body. The machine beeped once. Then came a more steadier line of beeps. A large tube ran down from it and into his throat, giving him air. More wires connected to his chest. They helped keep his heart pumping. It was the only thing that kept him alive now.
Seil tried not to panic. He knew what was happening. They knew what was happening. He knew that he could barely move these days. He could barely breathe. He would struggle to pick up a piece from Pinkie's puzzle. He needed help to eat. He was on his last legs.
The weeks still passed. He lay there, feeling useless. His body moving in his mind but not in reality. He cried himself to sleep. Pinkie was still there, but he felt no comfort in that. He couldn't hug her. Or kiss her. Or talk to her. He wondered why death hadn't taken him already.
The doctor came in the next day. He told Seil what was going to happen. He knew Seil couldn't respond. He removed the tube from Seil's throat and with a sigh, he left the room.
In the afternoon, Pinkie came back. She sat beside his bed, not saying anything. Then, she sang to him for the last time. Seil smiled. She kissed him again.
The doctor came back in. He motioned for Pinkie to leave. Seil tried to signal to him to let her stay. The doctor shook his head. It was not a good idea. He nodded at someone outside the doorway. A guard walked in and escorted Pinkie out. Seil watched longingly after her. The doctor noticed him. He shook his head and sighed mournfully.
He walked towards the windows. With one hoof, he closed the blinds. The small light cast by the grey fall sky was extinguished. It didn't bother Seil.
You are my sunshine, he sang in his head. The doctor then walked towards the instrument attached to Seil's body. The one giving him life.
My only sunshine,
The doctor watched Seil. Seil seemed at peace. The doc gave him a small shot of sedative, to ease the journey.
You make me happy,
Seil's eyelids fluttered before closing completely.
When skies are grey,
The doctor picked up the instrument. His hoof hovered over the termination button.
You'll never know dear,
It was his job.
How much I love you,
He pressed down.
Please don't take my sunshine away.
***
Pinkie sat on top of the hill. She watched as the sun finished its journey across the sky. It reminded her of Seil. It was the end of his journey. But he had shone his light across those who knew. And now, it shone for the last time.
The setting sun lit the sky like a fire. Wild patches of yellow, orange and red danced across the clouds, illuminating Pinkie's face. She remembered Seil. For all he was.
She blushed, a slight smile finding its way through her darkened features. She thought of the kiss. She loved him.
She hoped he did too.
She thought of his smile, his big blue eyes. A lone tear made its way down her face again.
She closed her eyes as the sun shone its last rays.
END