Hello Minna! Here is part two of "Breaking Point." Sorry it has taken so long
but I have had a crisis to deal with and am still dealing with it. I'm afraid
that I have many other priorities to take care of now so my stories are only
going to be worked on when I have time. Please be patient.
I forgot in the last part to thank Starlight Angel for helping me think of the
issues each of the girls would deal with. The two of us brainstormed which girl
would deal with which issue. So thank you Starlight Angel.
This part will be Maggie's part. This will take place when she is fourteen.
She will be suffering from depression. Depression is a medical condition that
does not need to be ignored. If you or someone you know is depressed then
please seek counseling.
E-mail me at AngelRaye2@aol.com
Come and see the Chibi Senshi at
www.chibiscout.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. With the exception of Rini I own the
Chibi Senshi.
Breaking Point
Part Two: Maggie
Issue: Depression
By
Angel Raye
Maggie quietly poked at the food on her plate and listened to the chatter around
her. It was a night when everyone had dinner in the big dining hall. All of
the Senshi were there with the exception of one, Maggie's mother Setsuna. As
usual Setsuna was at her post. Maggie found herself missing her mother more
then usual lately.
At fourteen Maggie was tall like her mother. She was now in the eighth grade.
In a few short months she and Daisy would both start studying for the high
school entrance exam. Maggie wasn't worried about that. She had good brains
and good study habits. Lita commented that she was a good influence on Daisy
whose study habits improved this last year.
Daisy was also tall like her mother. She was also like her mother in the sense
that she was boy crazy. Any good-looking guy whom walked by had Daisy's heart
pumping. It usually amused Maggie to no end.
She glanced around the table at the other girls. Maggie and Daisy were now
Cosmic Senshi like Rini but the rest of the girls were still Chibi Senshi. All
the other girls with the exception of Madelyn were in the sixth grade. Madelyn
was still in the fifth. She had just turned eleven and still very petite.
Ariel was going to be ten in a few weeks. She was also small and still very
kawaii. However, the babyish behaviors were now gone. Annika was going to be
twelve in a several months. She was still very shy, sweet and sensitive. She
was very petite and had her mother's exotic beauty. Maggie envied her closeness
to her mother. Hope and Faith were almost twelve as well. Hope was quite the
artist and musician while Faith was still an athlete. Both were growing quickly
and weren't that much shorter than Maggie and Daisy. Finally Gloria who was now
twelve was still a prankster who irritated the others at times. But her large
heart was evident. Rini was eighteen and in the twelfth grade. Like her mother
she had a large caring heart. She was trying to decide what college to go to.
Maggie glanced at all of them. ["They are so lucky,"] she thought. ["Their
mothers are always with them."]
"You're very quiet tonight," Lita commented to Maggie. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Maggie told her mentor. "I guess I'm just tired."
"You've been very quiet the last several days," Lita observed. "Is there
something on your mind?"
"I guess it's just the thought of the entrance exams we're going to have to
start studying for in a few months," Maggie replied.
Lita placed a hand on Maggie's cheek and smiled. She leaned over and kissed the
girl on the forehead. "Let me know if I can do anything for you. I still
regard you as a second daughter."
"Thank you Lita," Maggie forced a smile on her face. She couldn't tell Lita
what was wrong. She wouldn't understand. No one would.
After dinner everyone headed back to his or her quarters. Gary had night duty
in the control room that evening so Maggie came home to empty quarters. That
made things even worse. When she was a little girl Maggie would spend the night
at Lita's but now that she was older she would spend the night alone with the
promise to call Lita if she needed anything. Maggie locked the door to her
quarters which seemed so much emptier then usual. When she was younger Gary
didn't have as many night duties in the control room so that he could be there
for his daughter. Once Maggie turned thirteen Gary had asked her if it would be
okay for him to have more night duties. Maggie had told him yes thinking how
exciting it would be to stay on her own. At first it had been fun and Maggie
had enjoyed it. But as time went on Maggie found herself feeling more and more
lonely. She didn't want to call Lita because she didn't want anyone to think
she couldn't handle it. Sure the other girls' fathers had night duty too but
they all had their mothers. Setsuna was off at the Gates of Time. Maggie
always missed her mother but lately she missed her so much it hurt. She
wandered into her room and sat down on the bed. Tears began to fall down her
face. Burying her face into her pillow Maggie cried hysterically. This was
becoming a nightly thing. Maggie was convinced that she now rivaled Annika in
the constant crying. The only difference was that Annika cried openly while
Maggie did it privately.
A knock at the door pulled Maggie out of her wave of self-pity. Quickly
swallowing her sobs and wiping her eyes she walked to the door. "Who is it,"
Maggie called through the door.
"It's me Maggie," Lita's voice called back. "May I come in?" Maggie unlocked
the door and let her in. "Are you all right," Lita asked in concern.
"I'm fine," Maggie replied with a fixed smile on her face. "Why do you ask?"
"Maternal instinct," Lita told her. "You may not be my daughter but I love you
as if you were. I developed this maternal instinct with you many years ago."
She looked closely at the young girl in front of her. "There isn't anything
bothering you is there?"
How Maggie longed to throw herself into Lita's arms and cry. How she longed to
yell out, "Everything is bothering me. All I want to do is cry and I can't stop
it." But Maggie just smiled again. "I really okay Lita. Honest."
"Okay," Lita sighed only half believing the girl. She gave Maggie a kiss.
"Holler if you need me."
"I will," Maggie promised. She saw Lita out and as soon as the door was closed
Maggie began to cry again. Why couldn't she tell Lita or anyone the truth?
The next day when the dismissal bell rang at school Maggie as usual headed
toward her locker to change her shoes. It had been a long day and she was ready
to get home.
"Maggie," Daisy came running up. With her were two classmates, Ginko and Juri.
"Ginko and Juri invited us to get some ice cream. Would you like too?"
"No thank you," Maggie murmured. "But you go ahead."
"Come on Maggie," Juri urged as she flipped back her dark violet tresses. "We
won't be long if you're worried about getting all that homework done."
"Besides you need to have fun," Ginko added as she ran her fingers through her
short dark brown hair.
"I really don't feel like it today," Maggie firmly stated. "I really just want
to get home."
"Okay," Juri shrugged her shoulders. "Come on Daisy."
"I'll be there in a minute," Daisy told them.
"We'll wait outside," Ginko told her and the two girls left.
Daisy turned to Maggie," What is with you? You never want to do anything
anymore."
"I'm sorry Daisy," Maggie replied. "I just don't feel like going out right
now."
"You never do," Daisy sighed. She turned toward the door. "I'll see you later.
If you change your mind then come join us."
"I will," Maggie told her. She watched as Daisy left and then finished changing
her shoes. She didn't understand why she didn't want to do anything fun
anymore. Would anyone understand?
"Maggie I'm home," Gary called as he entered their quarters. He had just
finished working twenty-four straight hours in the control room and was just
exhausted. He was ready for a cup of tea and bed. He waited a minute,
expecting Maggie to greet him but she didn't show. "Maggie," he called again.
There was still no answer. Puzzled Gary went to Maggie's room and gently
knocked on the door. No one replied. ["Is she asleep,"] Gary wondered as he
opened the door. The room was dark because the curtains were closed and the
lights were out. Thinking at first that Maggie wasn't home Gary started to
withdraw from the room when he caught sight of his daughter's silhouette near
the window. Gary turned the lights on. Maggie was sitting in a chair by the
window holding a stuffed bear. "Maggie," he exclaimed.
"Papa," Maggie jerked her head up in surprise.
"Why didn't you answer," Gary asked in concern.
"I didn't hear you," Maggie replied. This was the truth since she was so lost
in her own thoughts.
"Is everything all right," Gary asked. This was so unlike his daughter. "I
know I have been very busy these last few weeks but I still want to be here for
you."
"I'm fine Papa," Maggie hastily replied. Inwardly she added, ["I really want
Mom."]
"Are you sure," Gary persisted. He studied his daughter's face. Her purple
eyes seemed to have lost some of their spark. "You don't look right."
"I'm just tired," Maggie fibbed. She gave a small laugh. "I guess I am just
studying too hard."
"Well take it easy," Gary told her, still not convinced. He made a mental note
in his mind to talk to either Lita or Amy about this when he had a chance. "I
am going to get some sleep. Wake me if you need me."
"I will Papa," Maggie told him. Once Gary was gone, she let the tears roll down
her face again. Why couldn't she tell anyone what was wrong?
Sighing in exasperation Daisy headed down to the palace living room where
Annika, Gloria and the twins were waiting. Although Daisy often stated she
didn't have time to hang out with elementary school kids anymore, the other
girls knew she was just all talk. Hope came up with the idea to spend their
Sunday afternoon going shopping. They decided to ask Daisy and Maggie to come
along. Daisy had gone to get Maggie and found much to her annoyance she hadn't
gotten out of bed yet even though it was after lunch. Daisy tried to persuade
her to join them but Maggie only gave excuses like the ones she had been giving
lately. Daisy finally gave up and just left. If Maggie wanted to give up her
afternoon then fine but Daisy was going to enjoy hers.
"What's up," asked Faith as Daisy came into the room.
"Where's Maggie," Gloria asked. "I thought you were going to get her."
"She doesn't want to come," Daisy sighed as she flopped down on the couch next
to Annika.
"She never wants to come with us anymore," Hope flatly stated.
"I know," Annika's soft voice added. "What is with her?"
Daisy sighed. She didn't like to complain about her best friend but she felt
she had to tell someone. "I don't know what's wrong with her," she admitted.
"All she does is mope nowadays. She's no fun anymore."
"I sense some pain in her when I am with her now," Annika softly whispered as
she threaded her fingers through her long violet tresses.
"What kind of pain," Daisy asked.
"I'm not sure," Annika replied in her gentle voice. She looked at Daisy. "I'm
not even twelve yet. I can't pinpoint someone else's pain."
"What's going on," Lita asked as she and Mina came into the living room.
"We thought you girls were going shopping," Mina added.
"We couldn't persuade Maggie to come with us," Daisy explained. She looked up
at her mother. "Mom, all Maggie ever does is mope around now. She never wants
to do anything. Annika said that she is sensing some pain in her now but she
doesn't know what."
Lita glanced at Annika who was blushing shyly and trying to look as
inconspicuous as possible. Knowing that Annika still hated to be in the center
of attention Lita decided not to put her on the spot. She turned back to her
daughter. "Do you think there is something very wrong with her," she asked.
"Mom I don't know," Daisy sighed. "All I know is that she isn't fun anymore. I
feel like I've lost my best friend."
Lita frowned. She hadn't shared this with Daisy yet but she too had been very
concerned about Maggie lately. Although Maggie kept saying she was fine, Lita
wasn't fooled. The girl was distressed about something. Not wanting to worry
Daisy, she smiled at her daughter, "I'll look into this for you. You just go on
with the others and have a good time."
"Okay Mom," Daisy replied. She and the other girls said goodbye and left.
Mina turned to Lita. "I was going to wait and discuss this with Setsuna but she
is dealing with some kind of flux in the Time Portal and isn't available," she
stated. "But since you're Maggie's mentor maybe I can discuss this with you."
"Problem," Lita asked in concern.
"Yes," Mina sighed. "I've noticed it in the last couple of training sessions.
Out of all the girls, Maggie has always been one of the better ones at training.
She does what she is supposed to do and is very alert."
"But," Lita prodded as Mina hesitated.
"Lately she just doesn't seem to care," Mina replied. "I've caught her not
paying attention and she has gotten injured a couple of times as a result. She
hasn't been seriously injured but she doesn't seem to be concerned about her
safety anymore."
"Do you think she is a danger to herself," Lita asked in a worried voice.
"Not only to herself but to the others," Mina stated. "The other day she was
training with Madelyn. The youma caught Madelyn but Maggie was very careless
with her attacks and was unable to save both of them. If she doesn't pull
herself together I'll have no choice but to suspend her."
"I see," Lita murmured. "Well I'll go and have a talk with her. Maybe she has
the high school entrance exams on her mind. She will be taking those next
year."
"Let's hope it's that," Mina sighed. "But this is very unlike Maggie and if she
is in trouble we need to help her."
"I agree," Lita said. With that she took off to talk to Maggie. On her way she
ran into Gary.
"Oh Lita," he stated. "I was just on my way to find you."
"I was just on my way to see Maggie," Lita told him.
"That's who I wanted to talk to you about," Gary replied. "I'm worried about
her."
"So are a lot of other people," Lita sighed. "What's going on?"
"I know I should go to Setsuna but with this flux in the time stream I can't get
to her," Gary sighed. He explained what had happened last night. "It's not
like her to be so distant with me. She hasn't even gotten out of bed yet today.
Maggie has always been a morning person. She won't talk to about what is
bothering her. I'm her father and I know something is bothering her."
"How has her mood been," Lita asked remembering the other night when she had
stopped in to see Maggie. The girl had put on an act of being okay but Lita had
had the suspicion that Maggie had been crying.
"Actually now that you mention it she seems to be very down," Gary frowned as he
remembered his daughter's demeanor lately.
"I'll go talk to her," Lita stated. "Let see what I can do."
"Thank you," Gary heaved a breath of relief. "I know she'll talk to you."
["Don't count on it,"] Lita thought as she headed toward the Senshi living
quarters. Maggie had been shutting her out too.
Maggie lay in her bed gazing at the ceiling. It was afternoon but she had no
desire to get out of bed. Daisy had left irritated with her because she
wouldn't get up and go shopping with the girls. ["What is wrong with me,"]
Maggie asked herself. ["I have a good home and a family who loves me. I have
good friends. Why can't I be happy? Why am I so sad all the time?"] Maggie
buried her face in her pillow. She knew she should have gotten up ages ago but
she didn't want too. ["Nothing is fun anymore,"] Maggie told herself. She was
so engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the main door to her
quarters open.
Lita walked into the room. "Not out of bed yet," Lita commented.
"No," Maggie murmured. Lita turned the light on. "Turn that off," Maggie
protested. "I want it dark."
"Sorry but I would like to see you while I am talking to you," Lita pointed out.
She looked around Maggie's bedroom. Maggie was usually very neat but right now
it looked like a cyclone had gone through the room. Clothes, books and other
items were scattered all over the place. She then took a close look at Maggie.
Her usually neat hair was in tangles and her eyes were bloodshot. Lita could
tell the girl had been crying. "What's going on," she asked.
"Nothing," Maggie snapped. "Why does everyone have to ask me that? I'm fine."
"No you're not," Lita calmly pointed out. "Everyone is worried about you. You
never want to do anything with your friends anymore and you look like you've
been crying. Now what is going on?"
"No one would understand," Maggie shouted sitting up. "I try to think that my
life is good but I am always so down and I can't cheer up. All I do is cry all
the time. I don't want to do anything and I feel so lonely all the time, even
when I am with other people."
Lita sat down on the bed and cupped Maggie's face in her hand. "How long have
you felt like this," she asked gently.
"A while," Maggie choked as tears began to run down her face. "And I don't know
why. I feel so alone through all of this."
Lita pulled Maggie into her arms. "You're not alone," she soothed. "I'm here
and so is everyone else. We'll get you through this."
"It's not fair Lita," Maggie cried as she buried her face in Lita's shoulder.
"Everyone else has their mother all the time. Why can't I have mine all the
time too? Why did I have to be born to the Guardian of Time?"
"Is that one of the things that is upsetting you," Lita asked. "But your mother
has always been the Guardian of Time."
"I know," Maggie sobbed. "But now there are things I need to talk about that I
can't talk about with Papa."
Lita understood. She lost both of her parents at a very young age and was
living alone by the time she was Maggie's age. There had been many times she
had wished her mother had been around to talk too. She cupped Maggie's face in
her hands and looked into the purple eyes. "I'll help you," she stated. "But
you have to be willing to help yourself too. The first thing you need to do is
to get out of this self-pity. Then you and I are going to go and see Amy."
"Amy," Maggie sighed. "But why?"
"Depression," Gary exclaimed. "But how can Maggie be depressed? She has two
parents who love her."
"It's not uncommon for an adolescent girl to be suffering from depression," Amy
told him. "Maggie has the usual teen pressures plus she's a Sailor Senshi and
her mother isn't always available. All of this will pile up causing the
depression."
"What can we do about it," Gary asked in a worried voice.
"I've prescribed some medication for her and have scheduled some times for her
to come with me," Amy replied. "In the meantime you need to make yourself more
available to her. She needs her parents right now."
"What about Setsuna," Gary asked. "Maggie needs her more then she needs me."
"And I will be there for her," another voice stated. Gary and Amy turned and
saw Setsuna had come into the office.
"Setsuna," Gary jumped up. "What are you doing here?"
"I've managed to fix the flux in the time stream," Setsuna replied. "Once I did
that I was able to sense something going on with Maggie. I ran into Lita on my
way over here and she told me what was going on."
"She'll be glad to see you," Amy stated. "What about your post?"
"It will do fine without me for now," Setsuna told her. "Right now my daughter
needs me more then my post."
"Then let's go see her," Gary exclaimed. "I believe you have her in one of your
rooms Amy."
"I'll take you to her," Amy said. She led Gary and Setsuna back to one of the
small waiting rooms. Maggie was sitting in one of the chairs just staring ahead
into space.
"Maggie," Setsuna called softly. Maggie snapped out of her reverie and turned
toward her mother.
"Mom," she gasped. "Is it really you? Are you really here to see me?"
"I am Darling," Setsuna replied. "I've fixed the problem in the time stream and
I came to be with you."
"Mom," Maggie cried as she flung herself into her mother's arms. She began to
cry all over again. "I've been do depressed Mom and I felt so alone."
"Well you're not alone," Setsuna soothed. "I'm here and we are going to get you
through this. I promise."
A few months later...
"Hurrah," Daisy cheered as school let out. "No school for a whole month."
"And when we go back in April we'll be in grade nine," Maggie added cheerfully
as she changed her shoes.
"Can you believe that in April all of us except Madelyn and Rini will be in
Junior High," Daisy sighed.
"Only for one year," Maggie reminded her. "Besides we'll be studying for the
high school entrance exam and going to cram school."
"Ugh did you have to remind me of that," Daisy grimaced as she playfully swiped
at her best friend.
"Don't worry," Maggie told her smoothly. "You'll pass if you can keep your mind
off of boys for two seconds."
"Why you," Daisy shrieked as she chased a giggling Maggie out the door.
Setsuna and Lita were both waiting for them outside the school. They had
arranged to take the girls out to Lita's restaurant as a last day of eighth
grade treat. Everyone was looking forward to it. "I am so glad to see Maggie
happy again," Lita stated. "She had me very worried."
"She had everyone worried," Setsuna added. Although she was still at her post a
lot there weren't any problems so Maggie was able to visit her mother when she
wanted too. Always cooperative Maggie was open and honest with Amy whenever she
talked to her. The medication helped too. Although Maggie was doing much
better Amy kept her on the medication. In her opinion it would help Maggie get
through the next year with the entrance exams. Setsuna and Gary agreed. Maggie
was doing very well and they wanted to keep it up.
"Hi Mom," Daisy called as she and Maggie dashed over to them.
"Are we ready," Lita asked.
"We sure are," Maggie replied as she linked her arm in Setsuna's. Lita drove
them to the restaurant. On the way over Maggie and Daisy talked to each other.
"If Mom hadn't taken you to Amy that time you wouldn't want to be coming with
us," Daisy told her. "I'm glad you're better. You are more fun like this."
"Thanks I think," Maggie giggled. She herself was glad to be laughing instead
of crying now. As far as she was concerned a huge weight had been taken off her
shoulders and it was going to stay off. ["I may be immortal,"] Maggie thought.
["But I want to be happy for eternity, not depressed."] Giggling she and Daisy
laughed about some of the antics that went on in school that day and in general
just enjoyed life.
End of part two.
but I have had a crisis to deal with and am still dealing with it. I'm afraid
that I have many other priorities to take care of now so my stories are only
going to be worked on when I have time. Please be patient.
I forgot in the last part to thank Starlight Angel for helping me think of the
issues each of the girls would deal with. The two of us brainstormed which girl
would deal with which issue. So thank you Starlight Angel.
This part will be Maggie's part. This will take place when she is fourteen.
She will be suffering from depression. Depression is a medical condition that
does not need to be ignored. If you or someone you know is depressed then
please seek counseling.
E-mail me at AngelRaye2@aol.com
Come and see the Chibi Senshi at
www.chibiscout.com
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. With the exception of Rini I own the
Chibi Senshi.
Breaking Point
Part Two: Maggie
Issue: Depression
By
Angel Raye
Maggie quietly poked at the food on her plate and listened to the chatter around
her. It was a night when everyone had dinner in the big dining hall. All of
the Senshi were there with the exception of one, Maggie's mother Setsuna. As
usual Setsuna was at her post. Maggie found herself missing her mother more
then usual lately.
At fourteen Maggie was tall like her mother. She was now in the eighth grade.
In a few short months she and Daisy would both start studying for the high
school entrance exam. Maggie wasn't worried about that. She had good brains
and good study habits. Lita commented that she was a good influence on Daisy
whose study habits improved this last year.
Daisy was also tall like her mother. She was also like her mother in the sense
that she was boy crazy. Any good-looking guy whom walked by had Daisy's heart
pumping. It usually amused Maggie to no end.
She glanced around the table at the other girls. Maggie and Daisy were now
Cosmic Senshi like Rini but the rest of the girls were still Chibi Senshi. All
the other girls with the exception of Madelyn were in the sixth grade. Madelyn
was still in the fifth. She had just turned eleven and still very petite.
Ariel was going to be ten in a few weeks. She was also small and still very
kawaii. However, the babyish behaviors were now gone. Annika was going to be
twelve in a several months. She was still very shy, sweet and sensitive. She
was very petite and had her mother's exotic beauty. Maggie envied her closeness
to her mother. Hope and Faith were almost twelve as well. Hope was quite the
artist and musician while Faith was still an athlete. Both were growing quickly
and weren't that much shorter than Maggie and Daisy. Finally Gloria who was now
twelve was still a prankster who irritated the others at times. But her large
heart was evident. Rini was eighteen and in the twelfth grade. Like her mother
she had a large caring heart. She was trying to decide what college to go to.
Maggie glanced at all of them. ["They are so lucky,"] she thought. ["Their
mothers are always with them."]
"You're very quiet tonight," Lita commented to Maggie. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Maggie told her mentor. "I guess I'm just tired."
"You've been very quiet the last several days," Lita observed. "Is there
something on your mind?"
"I guess it's just the thought of the entrance exams we're going to have to
start studying for in a few months," Maggie replied.
Lita placed a hand on Maggie's cheek and smiled. She leaned over and kissed the
girl on the forehead. "Let me know if I can do anything for you. I still
regard you as a second daughter."
"Thank you Lita," Maggie forced a smile on her face. She couldn't tell Lita
what was wrong. She wouldn't understand. No one would.
After dinner everyone headed back to his or her quarters. Gary had night duty
in the control room that evening so Maggie came home to empty quarters. That
made things even worse. When she was a little girl Maggie would spend the night
at Lita's but now that she was older she would spend the night alone with the
promise to call Lita if she needed anything. Maggie locked the door to her
quarters which seemed so much emptier then usual. When she was younger Gary
didn't have as many night duties in the control room so that he could be there
for his daughter. Once Maggie turned thirteen Gary had asked her if it would be
okay for him to have more night duties. Maggie had told him yes thinking how
exciting it would be to stay on her own. At first it had been fun and Maggie
had enjoyed it. But as time went on Maggie found herself feeling more and more
lonely. She didn't want to call Lita because she didn't want anyone to think
she couldn't handle it. Sure the other girls' fathers had night duty too but
they all had their mothers. Setsuna was off at the Gates of Time. Maggie
always missed her mother but lately she missed her so much it hurt. She
wandered into her room and sat down on the bed. Tears began to fall down her
face. Burying her face into her pillow Maggie cried hysterically. This was
becoming a nightly thing. Maggie was convinced that she now rivaled Annika in
the constant crying. The only difference was that Annika cried openly while
Maggie did it privately.
A knock at the door pulled Maggie out of her wave of self-pity. Quickly
swallowing her sobs and wiping her eyes she walked to the door. "Who is it,"
Maggie called through the door.
"It's me Maggie," Lita's voice called back. "May I come in?" Maggie unlocked
the door and let her in. "Are you all right," Lita asked in concern.
"I'm fine," Maggie replied with a fixed smile on her face. "Why do you ask?"
"Maternal instinct," Lita told her. "You may not be my daughter but I love you
as if you were. I developed this maternal instinct with you many years ago."
She looked closely at the young girl in front of her. "There isn't anything
bothering you is there?"
How Maggie longed to throw herself into Lita's arms and cry. How she longed to
yell out, "Everything is bothering me. All I want to do is cry and I can't stop
it." But Maggie just smiled again. "I really okay Lita. Honest."
"Okay," Lita sighed only half believing the girl. She gave Maggie a kiss.
"Holler if you need me."
"I will," Maggie promised. She saw Lita out and as soon as the door was closed
Maggie began to cry again. Why couldn't she tell Lita or anyone the truth?
The next day when the dismissal bell rang at school Maggie as usual headed
toward her locker to change her shoes. It had been a long day and she was ready
to get home.
"Maggie," Daisy came running up. With her were two classmates, Ginko and Juri.
"Ginko and Juri invited us to get some ice cream. Would you like too?"
"No thank you," Maggie murmured. "But you go ahead."
"Come on Maggie," Juri urged as she flipped back her dark violet tresses. "We
won't be long if you're worried about getting all that homework done."
"Besides you need to have fun," Ginko added as she ran her fingers through her
short dark brown hair.
"I really don't feel like it today," Maggie firmly stated. "I really just want
to get home."
"Okay," Juri shrugged her shoulders. "Come on Daisy."
"I'll be there in a minute," Daisy told them.
"We'll wait outside," Ginko told her and the two girls left.
Daisy turned to Maggie," What is with you? You never want to do anything
anymore."
"I'm sorry Daisy," Maggie replied. "I just don't feel like going out right
now."
"You never do," Daisy sighed. She turned toward the door. "I'll see you later.
If you change your mind then come join us."
"I will," Maggie told her. She watched as Daisy left and then finished changing
her shoes. She didn't understand why she didn't want to do anything fun
anymore. Would anyone understand?
"Maggie I'm home," Gary called as he entered their quarters. He had just
finished working twenty-four straight hours in the control room and was just
exhausted. He was ready for a cup of tea and bed. He waited a minute,
expecting Maggie to greet him but she didn't show. "Maggie," he called again.
There was still no answer. Puzzled Gary went to Maggie's room and gently
knocked on the door. No one replied. ["Is she asleep,"] Gary wondered as he
opened the door. The room was dark because the curtains were closed and the
lights were out. Thinking at first that Maggie wasn't home Gary started to
withdraw from the room when he caught sight of his daughter's silhouette near
the window. Gary turned the lights on. Maggie was sitting in a chair by the
window holding a stuffed bear. "Maggie," he exclaimed.
"Papa," Maggie jerked her head up in surprise.
"Why didn't you answer," Gary asked in concern.
"I didn't hear you," Maggie replied. This was the truth since she was so lost
in her own thoughts.
"Is everything all right," Gary asked. This was so unlike his daughter. "I
know I have been very busy these last few weeks but I still want to be here for
you."
"I'm fine Papa," Maggie hastily replied. Inwardly she added, ["I really want
Mom."]
"Are you sure," Gary persisted. He studied his daughter's face. Her purple
eyes seemed to have lost some of their spark. "You don't look right."
"I'm just tired," Maggie fibbed. She gave a small laugh. "I guess I am just
studying too hard."
"Well take it easy," Gary told her, still not convinced. He made a mental note
in his mind to talk to either Lita or Amy about this when he had a chance. "I
am going to get some sleep. Wake me if you need me."
"I will Papa," Maggie told him. Once Gary was gone, she let the tears roll down
her face again. Why couldn't she tell anyone what was wrong?
Sighing in exasperation Daisy headed down to the palace living room where
Annika, Gloria and the twins were waiting. Although Daisy often stated she
didn't have time to hang out with elementary school kids anymore, the other
girls knew she was just all talk. Hope came up with the idea to spend their
Sunday afternoon going shopping. They decided to ask Daisy and Maggie to come
along. Daisy had gone to get Maggie and found much to her annoyance she hadn't
gotten out of bed yet even though it was after lunch. Daisy tried to persuade
her to join them but Maggie only gave excuses like the ones she had been giving
lately. Daisy finally gave up and just left. If Maggie wanted to give up her
afternoon then fine but Daisy was going to enjoy hers.
"What's up," asked Faith as Daisy came into the room.
"Where's Maggie," Gloria asked. "I thought you were going to get her."
"She doesn't want to come," Daisy sighed as she flopped down on the couch next
to Annika.
"She never wants to come with us anymore," Hope flatly stated.
"I know," Annika's soft voice added. "What is with her?"
Daisy sighed. She didn't like to complain about her best friend but she felt
she had to tell someone. "I don't know what's wrong with her," she admitted.
"All she does is mope nowadays. She's no fun anymore."
"I sense some pain in her when I am with her now," Annika softly whispered as
she threaded her fingers through her long violet tresses.
"What kind of pain," Daisy asked.
"I'm not sure," Annika replied in her gentle voice. She looked at Daisy. "I'm
not even twelve yet. I can't pinpoint someone else's pain."
"What's going on," Lita asked as she and Mina came into the living room.
"We thought you girls were going shopping," Mina added.
"We couldn't persuade Maggie to come with us," Daisy explained. She looked up
at her mother. "Mom, all Maggie ever does is mope around now. She never wants
to do anything. Annika said that she is sensing some pain in her now but she
doesn't know what."
Lita glanced at Annika who was blushing shyly and trying to look as
inconspicuous as possible. Knowing that Annika still hated to be in the center
of attention Lita decided not to put her on the spot. She turned back to her
daughter. "Do you think there is something very wrong with her," she asked.
"Mom I don't know," Daisy sighed. "All I know is that she isn't fun anymore. I
feel like I've lost my best friend."
Lita frowned. She hadn't shared this with Daisy yet but she too had been very
concerned about Maggie lately. Although Maggie kept saying she was fine, Lita
wasn't fooled. The girl was distressed about something. Not wanting to worry
Daisy, she smiled at her daughter, "I'll look into this for you. You just go on
with the others and have a good time."
"Okay Mom," Daisy replied. She and the other girls said goodbye and left.
Mina turned to Lita. "I was going to wait and discuss this with Setsuna but she
is dealing with some kind of flux in the Time Portal and isn't available," she
stated. "But since you're Maggie's mentor maybe I can discuss this with you."
"Problem," Lita asked in concern.
"Yes," Mina sighed. "I've noticed it in the last couple of training sessions.
Out of all the girls, Maggie has always been one of the better ones at training.
She does what she is supposed to do and is very alert."
"But," Lita prodded as Mina hesitated.
"Lately she just doesn't seem to care," Mina replied. "I've caught her not
paying attention and she has gotten injured a couple of times as a result. She
hasn't been seriously injured but she doesn't seem to be concerned about her
safety anymore."
"Do you think she is a danger to herself," Lita asked in a worried voice.
"Not only to herself but to the others," Mina stated. "The other day she was
training with Madelyn. The youma caught Madelyn but Maggie was very careless
with her attacks and was unable to save both of them. If she doesn't pull
herself together I'll have no choice but to suspend her."
"I see," Lita murmured. "Well I'll go and have a talk with her. Maybe she has
the high school entrance exams on her mind. She will be taking those next
year."
"Let's hope it's that," Mina sighed. "But this is very unlike Maggie and if she
is in trouble we need to help her."
"I agree," Lita said. With that she took off to talk to Maggie. On her way she
ran into Gary.
"Oh Lita," he stated. "I was just on my way to find you."
"I was just on my way to see Maggie," Lita told him.
"That's who I wanted to talk to you about," Gary replied. "I'm worried about
her."
"So are a lot of other people," Lita sighed. "What's going on?"
"I know I should go to Setsuna but with this flux in the time stream I can't get
to her," Gary sighed. He explained what had happened last night. "It's not
like her to be so distant with me. She hasn't even gotten out of bed yet today.
Maggie has always been a morning person. She won't talk to about what is
bothering her. I'm her father and I know something is bothering her."
"How has her mood been," Lita asked remembering the other night when she had
stopped in to see Maggie. The girl had put on an act of being okay but Lita had
had the suspicion that Maggie had been crying.
"Actually now that you mention it she seems to be very down," Gary frowned as he
remembered his daughter's demeanor lately.
"I'll go talk to her," Lita stated. "Let see what I can do."
"Thank you," Gary heaved a breath of relief. "I know she'll talk to you."
["Don't count on it,"] Lita thought as she headed toward the Senshi living
quarters. Maggie had been shutting her out too.
Maggie lay in her bed gazing at the ceiling. It was afternoon but she had no
desire to get out of bed. Daisy had left irritated with her because she
wouldn't get up and go shopping with the girls. ["What is wrong with me,"]
Maggie asked herself. ["I have a good home and a family who loves me. I have
good friends. Why can't I be happy? Why am I so sad all the time?"] Maggie
buried her face in her pillow. She knew she should have gotten up ages ago but
she didn't want too. ["Nothing is fun anymore,"] Maggie told herself. She was
so engrossed in her own thoughts that she didn't hear the main door to her
quarters open.
Lita walked into the room. "Not out of bed yet," Lita commented.
"No," Maggie murmured. Lita turned the light on. "Turn that off," Maggie
protested. "I want it dark."
"Sorry but I would like to see you while I am talking to you," Lita pointed out.
She looked around Maggie's bedroom. Maggie was usually very neat but right now
it looked like a cyclone had gone through the room. Clothes, books and other
items were scattered all over the place. She then took a close look at Maggie.
Her usually neat hair was in tangles and her eyes were bloodshot. Lita could
tell the girl had been crying. "What's going on," she asked.
"Nothing," Maggie snapped. "Why does everyone have to ask me that? I'm fine."
"No you're not," Lita calmly pointed out. "Everyone is worried about you. You
never want to do anything with your friends anymore and you look like you've
been crying. Now what is going on?"
"No one would understand," Maggie shouted sitting up. "I try to think that my
life is good but I am always so down and I can't cheer up. All I do is cry all
the time. I don't want to do anything and I feel so lonely all the time, even
when I am with other people."
Lita sat down on the bed and cupped Maggie's face in her hand. "How long have
you felt like this," she asked gently.
"A while," Maggie choked as tears began to run down her face. "And I don't know
why. I feel so alone through all of this."
Lita pulled Maggie into her arms. "You're not alone," she soothed. "I'm here
and so is everyone else. We'll get you through this."
"It's not fair Lita," Maggie cried as she buried her face in Lita's shoulder.
"Everyone else has their mother all the time. Why can't I have mine all the
time too? Why did I have to be born to the Guardian of Time?"
"Is that one of the things that is upsetting you," Lita asked. "But your mother
has always been the Guardian of Time."
"I know," Maggie sobbed. "But now there are things I need to talk about that I
can't talk about with Papa."
Lita understood. She lost both of her parents at a very young age and was
living alone by the time she was Maggie's age. There had been many times she
had wished her mother had been around to talk too. She cupped Maggie's face in
her hands and looked into the purple eyes. "I'll help you," she stated. "But
you have to be willing to help yourself too. The first thing you need to do is
to get out of this self-pity. Then you and I are going to go and see Amy."
"Amy," Maggie sighed. "But why?"
"Depression," Gary exclaimed. "But how can Maggie be depressed? She has two
parents who love her."
"It's not uncommon for an adolescent girl to be suffering from depression," Amy
told him. "Maggie has the usual teen pressures plus she's a Sailor Senshi and
her mother isn't always available. All of this will pile up causing the
depression."
"What can we do about it," Gary asked in a worried voice.
"I've prescribed some medication for her and have scheduled some times for her
to come with me," Amy replied. "In the meantime you need to make yourself more
available to her. She needs her parents right now."
"What about Setsuna," Gary asked. "Maggie needs her more then she needs me."
"And I will be there for her," another voice stated. Gary and Amy turned and
saw Setsuna had come into the office.
"Setsuna," Gary jumped up. "What are you doing here?"
"I've managed to fix the flux in the time stream," Setsuna replied. "Once I did
that I was able to sense something going on with Maggie. I ran into Lita on my
way over here and she told me what was going on."
"She'll be glad to see you," Amy stated. "What about your post?"
"It will do fine without me for now," Setsuna told her. "Right now my daughter
needs me more then my post."
"Then let's go see her," Gary exclaimed. "I believe you have her in one of your
rooms Amy."
"I'll take you to her," Amy said. She led Gary and Setsuna back to one of the
small waiting rooms. Maggie was sitting in one of the chairs just staring ahead
into space.
"Maggie," Setsuna called softly. Maggie snapped out of her reverie and turned
toward her mother.
"Mom," she gasped. "Is it really you? Are you really here to see me?"
"I am Darling," Setsuna replied. "I've fixed the problem in the time stream and
I came to be with you."
"Mom," Maggie cried as she flung herself into her mother's arms. She began to
cry all over again. "I've been do depressed Mom and I felt so alone."
"Well you're not alone," Setsuna soothed. "I'm here and we are going to get you
through this. I promise."
A few months later...
"Hurrah," Daisy cheered as school let out. "No school for a whole month."
"And when we go back in April we'll be in grade nine," Maggie added cheerfully
as she changed her shoes.
"Can you believe that in April all of us except Madelyn and Rini will be in
Junior High," Daisy sighed.
"Only for one year," Maggie reminded her. "Besides we'll be studying for the
high school entrance exam and going to cram school."
"Ugh did you have to remind me of that," Daisy grimaced as she playfully swiped
at her best friend.
"Don't worry," Maggie told her smoothly. "You'll pass if you can keep your mind
off of boys for two seconds."
"Why you," Daisy shrieked as she chased a giggling Maggie out the door.
Setsuna and Lita were both waiting for them outside the school. They had
arranged to take the girls out to Lita's restaurant as a last day of eighth
grade treat. Everyone was looking forward to it. "I am so glad to see Maggie
happy again," Lita stated. "She had me very worried."
"She had everyone worried," Setsuna added. Although she was still at her post a
lot there weren't any problems so Maggie was able to visit her mother when she
wanted too. Always cooperative Maggie was open and honest with Amy whenever she
talked to her. The medication helped too. Although Maggie was doing much
better Amy kept her on the medication. In her opinion it would help Maggie get
through the next year with the entrance exams. Setsuna and Gary agreed. Maggie
was doing very well and they wanted to keep it up.
"Hi Mom," Daisy called as she and Maggie dashed over to them.
"Are we ready," Lita asked.
"We sure are," Maggie replied as she linked her arm in Setsuna's. Lita drove
them to the restaurant. On the way over Maggie and Daisy talked to each other.
"If Mom hadn't taken you to Amy that time you wouldn't want to be coming with
us," Daisy told her. "I'm glad you're better. You are more fun like this."
"Thanks I think," Maggie giggled. She herself was glad to be laughing instead
of crying now. As far as she was concerned a huge weight had been taken off her
shoulders and it was going to stay off. ["I may be immortal,"] Maggie thought.
["But I want to be happy for eternity, not depressed."] Giggling she and Daisy
laughed about some of the antics that went on in school that day and in general
just enjoyed life.
End of part two.