//------------------------------//
// Derpy's Loss 
// Story: Derpy's Loss 
// by Creative Punch 
//------------------------------//

Derpy sat at her table, staring at the reflection of herself in the glass. 

"I just wish...." she said as she looked around the empty house. Eyes filling with tears at how alone she felt. A buzz from the washer though told her the sheets should be dry. 

She wiped the tears from her eyes as she stood up and trotted to the dryer. She pulled Dinky's sheet out. Holding them up, she could still see the large red stain. The memories flashing back suddenly. The sight of her daughter laying there, eyes frozen in terror as she looked up at her mother. The red stain underneath spreading. 

Derpy couldn't think about it anymore, dropping the sheet and falling to the ground sobbing. She tried to pull herself together, but it was a struggle. 

As she stood up, she realized it was almost noon. She had spent most of the morning trying to get rid of the evidence of the tragedy. She'd forgotten breakfast. But then again, breakfast would have been impossible without her muffin there to greet her. Still, she had to eat something. Her trots echoing into the hall as she passed Dinky's room. 

As she entered the kitchen again, she began making a dandelion sandwich. Her mind racing as she tried to process it all. She knew that no matter how much it hurt, no one would listen. No one would help. And so her mind was left to turn it over again and again, trying to see where it all went wrong. 

Should she have put in some locks? Maybe been there sooner? Maybe she should have paid more attention to her. It didn't matter, it was too late for that now. 

As she hung her head there, the door opened. Her Husband walking in. The brown earth pony was silent as he walked up to her. Softly giving her a hug. "I had to go across town for work. I thought I could stop in, make sure you're ok." He chuckled a bit. "I know how rough it can be when you don't eat breakfast."

She smiled despite her head being buried in his chest. Simply nodding as he went on.

"It'll be ok though, We can have another one-"

"No" she cried. "I want mine back. Remember how hard we tried?" She looked up at him. "How we almost had to go to a specialist?"

He just chuckled and gave her a soft kiss on the head. "And how happy you were when it finally happened. Called it our own little miracle."

Derpy looked up and smiled at him. He was always so supportive. 

"Oops, I'm gonna be late," he said as he let go. "Ill cook tonight while you recover." 

She nodded, smiling despite how she wanted to beg him to stay.


*************


It had been a few hours and Derpy had laid her head on the table. Eyes dry as she just groaned and looked forward. She rolled the pill bottle over in her hoofs. It was all gone. Every last one of them. Then the pain became worse. 

She groaned. Her mind wandering. Is this what death felt like? Her head throbbed and pounded as she gave a weak smile. It didn't matter, the pain would soon be over.  Just a little longer and she would be with Dinky. Then things could be good and happy again. 

She felt guilty leaving her husband behind, but he would understand. Her only real regret was that they didn't have more pills. Just a few more and the pain could have been over quicker. Sure, her answer might have seemed extreme, but it was all she could do. She let out another groan. She could barely think or keep her eyes open. Then, A shadow fell on her face as she blinked. 

"Hello mommy," The voice said as she looked toward it. Dinky stood there with a blue berry muffin. She shook her head a bit. Her mind was playing tricks on her and she knew it. Dinky was gone, she couldn't be here.

"Here, I got this for you mommy!" The apparition said as she placed it on the desk. It certainly smelled real. But she refused to believe it. "But how...."

"Miss Cheerlie let us out of class early so I bought it for you." Tears of joy streamed down Derpy's face as she grabbed up...

THE MUFFIN!

Dinky stood there, looking down at her hooves while her mom ate. "I'm sorry I stole your strawberry and raspberry muffin last night Mom. And I'm sorry it tried to hide it in bed. I didn't mean to sit on it and stain the sheets all red. I know you and dad worked hard on it, it just looked so good."

"Its ok..." Derpy said as she stopped to hug Dinky. "Since you wanted one, why don't we make some together?"

Dinky clapped happily before frowning and looking at the pill bottle. "M-mommy...are you sick? You didn't take all of that did you? The teachers said that would hurt you....."

Derpy could only smile and pat Dinky's head. "Thanks for worrying, but I'm ok. Mommy just had a huge hunger headache. But daddy was a big meanie and took the last aspirin and didn't tell me. "

Dinky chuckled "Daddy was rude."

Derpy nodded, "He really was. So I was taking a nap to deal with it. But then you brought the muffin and now I feel all better."

Dinky smiled and hugged Derpy again. "So I made you all better?" she asked.

Derpy chuckled and nodded. "You did hun. Now, wanna go to the park?"

"Yeah mom," Dinky cried. "But isn't Dad coming with us?"

"Nah, he was a meanie and didn't tell me about the aspirin. Besides, some mother daughter time would be nice."

And thus they made cranberry and strawberry muffins and lived happily ever after. Playing at parks, having fun, and living long and fulfilling lives. And never again did Derpy trust her husband around the medicine cabinet.

The End