CHAPTER 3
Pink's world was spinning. One moment, she'd be fine; the next, she'd forget everything. Her friend Nova was always there to help her.
One day, Pink found an old photo in her grandmother's trunk. It was her mother, standing with a woman Pink had never seen.
"Who is this?" Pink asked her grandmother.
Her grandmother's eyes clouded. "That is your aunt Emma. Your mother and she had a falling out."
Pink's mind reeled. She'd never known she had an aunt. Why hadn't her mother told her?
As Pink learned more, she discovered a family secret: her mother's sister had been hurt badly, and they'd lost touch.
Pink felt a mix of emotions. She was angry, sad, and curious. Why hadn't her mother shared this with her?
Nova noticed Pink's change. "Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.
Pink shared the family secret. Nova listened, her eyes wide with surprise.
"I'm here for you, Pink," Nova said. "We'll figure this out together."
But just as Pink was processing this new information, Dr. Lee shared some unexpected news: Pink's symptoms might be linked to a underlying condition.
Pink felt scared and uncertain. What did this mean for her future?
Nova took Pink's hand. "We'll face this together, okay?"
Pink nodded, feeling a sense of relief. She wasn't alone.
As Pink navigated these challenges, she realized that she was stronger than she thought. With Nova's support, she began to cope with her symptoms and understand her family better.
Coping with the Diagnosis,
Pink's diagnosis brought a mix of emotions. She felt relieved to finally understand what was happening, but scared about the future.
Nova was her rock, accompanying her to doctor's appointments and offering support.
"You're not alone, Pink," Nova said. "We'll face this together."
With Nova's help, Pink learned to manage her symptoms. She discovered new coping mechanisms and found solace in creative activities.
Pink's conversation with her grandmother sparked a desire to understand her mother's past.
"Mom, can we talk?" Pink asked, her voice hesitant.
Her mother took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Pink. I didn't mean to hurt you by keeping secrets."
Pink listened as her mother shared her story. They began to heal and rebuild their relationship.
As Pink and Nova navigated challenges together, their bond grew stronger.
"Thanks for being here for me, Nova," Pink said, her eyes welling up with tears.
Nova smiled. "That's what friends are for."
Their friendship became a source of strength and comfort for both of them.
Let's explore Pink's growth and new beginnings.
FIn fnding Strength, Pink's journey taught her to be kinder to herself and appreciate her unique strengths.
"I used to think I was broken," Pink said. "But I'm learning to see my flaws as a part of who I am."
The new Beginnings with her new found understanding, Pink started to pursue her passions. She joined a art club and discovered a talent for painting.
"Creating art helps me express my emotions," Pink said. "It's like therapy for me.*
As the friendship with Nova keep growing,
Pink's relationships with Nova and her mother deepened. They became sources of comfort, support, and love.
"I'm grateful for people like you in my life," Pink told Nova.
Nova smiled. "We're in this together, Pink."
As Pink looked to the future, she felt hopeful. She knew she'd face challenges, but she was ready.
Pink's art gained recognition, and she started selling her pieces locally. Kian, her friend , beamed with pride.
"You're talented, Pink!" Kian exclaimed.
Nova nodded in agreement. "Your art reflects your journey."
Pink smiled, grateful for her friends' support.
Despite progress, Pink faced setbacks. Her condition flared up, affecting her creativity.
Nova and Kian rallied around her. "We're here for you, Pink," Nova said.
Kian added, "We'll help you through this."
Pink learned to adapt, finding new ways to create. Her art evolved, reflecting her experiences.
"I'm stronger than I thought," Pink realized.
Nova and Kian nodded in agreement. "We've always known that," Nova said.
Pink's friends celebrated her successes. They admired her art, praising her resilience.
"Your story inspires me," Kian said.
Nova added, "You're an amazing person, Pink."
Pink's heart swelled with gratitude. She knew she'd always cherish her friendships.
Pink art gained recognition beyond their local community. She started receiving commissions and showcasing her work in galleries.
Kian and Nova attended each exhibition, beaming with pride.
"You're an inspiration," Kian said.
Pink art explored themes of identity, mental health, and relationships. She found solace in creative expression.
"Art helps me process my emotions," Pink said.
Nova nodded. "Your art is authentic and relatable."
Pink's art connected her with others who shared similar experiences. She found a sense of community and belonging.
"I'm grateful for my friends and supporters," Pink said.
Kian smiled. "We're here for you, Pink"
Embracing the Future,
Pink looked forward to continued growth and exploration. She knew her journey would have ups and downs.
"I'm excited for what's next," Pink said.
Nova and Kian stood by her side, ready to face whatever came next...
Pink sat alone on the back steps of the school. Her backpack was beside her, half-open, math homework forgotten. The air smelled like dust and wet grass, and the sky was heavy with clouds that didn't know if they wanted to cry or not.
She felt the same way.
It had been 491 days since Nova disappeared. Everyone counted differently, but Pink counted every one. Not out loud. Just in her bones. She could feel the missing days, the empty minutes where Nova's voice used to live.
The others stopped talking about her months ago. Teachers stopped checking in. Her mother stopped crying in the kitchen at night. Life went on.
But not for Pink.
Inside her, time had stopped. Or maybe it moved backward.
She pressed her thumb into the notebook on her lap—the blue one Nova gave her two years ago with the stars on the cover. It was empty for months. Until yesterday.
Yesterday, she wrote:
"It's hard being the one left behind. You don't really know who you are anymore. Just what you're missing."
And then she drew a brain. Hollow. Empty. Scribbled in black ink. It felt right.
"Pink?"
She turned. It was Ms. Rayna, the school counselor. Her smile was small and worried, like she didn't want to scare her off.
"I've been looking for you," Ms. Rayna said softly. "Can we talk?"
Pink didn't answer, but she didn't run either. That was enough.
They sat on the steps in silence for a while. Then Ms. Rayna pulled something out of her bag—a folded paper, creased and yellowing.
"I wasn't sure if I should give this to you," she said. "But I think it's time."
Pink unfolded it slowly.
It was a letter.
Nova's handwriting.
Dear Pink,
If you're reading this, it means I didn't come back. I don't know where I'll go or if I'll find what I'm looking for. I just know I couldn't stay.
It's not your fault. Please don't let anyone make you think that. You were the only light I had for a long time. But sometimes even light hurts when it shines too bright.
Promise me you won't try to carry my pain. It's too heavy. Even for you.
But also… promise you'll live. Really live. Laugh at dumb jokes. Dance like a weirdo. Let people in. Even if it's scary.
You're going to do things I never could. I believe that. I love you.
Nova
Pink stared at the paper until her vision blurred.
She wasn't sure if it made her feel better or worse.
"I didn't know she left letters," Pink whispered.
"Just that one," Ms. Rayna said. "She gave it to me the week before she disappeared. Told me to keep it safe."
Pink folded it carefully, like it might break.
"Why didn't you give it to me sooner?"
Ms. Rayna sighed. "You were so quiet back then. We didn't want to make it harder."
"It was already hard," Pink said.
They sat there for a long time. Then Pink asked, "Do you think she's still alive?"
"I don't know," Ms. Rayna said honestly. "But I think she wanted you to be."
That night, Pink lay awake with the letter beside her pillow.
She thought she heard Nova's voice in the dark, just for a second. A whisper. Or maybe it was her own thoughts talking back to her.
The next morning, she didn't feel like going to school. But she did anyway.
As she walked down the hallway, something strange happened.
A boy she didn't recognize was standing by her locker. He was tall, a little awkward, with headphones hanging around his neck. He looked nervous.
"You're Pink, right?"
She nodded slowly.
"I'm Theo," he said. "I… I didn't know how to say this, but I think I might've known your sister."
Pink blinked. "Nova?"
"Yeah. From the center. Two towns over. We were in the same group therapy circle last year."
Her heart stopped. She felt cold and hot all at once.
"She was alive?" she asked, voice cracking.
Theo looked down. "Yeah. For a while."
Pink felt like she might collapse.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"I don't think she wanted anyone to know where she was. But she talked about you. A lot. Said you were smart. Said you used to make these mini comic books about a hero with pink hair who never gave up."
Pink stared at him, stunned. She hadn't made those comics since Nova left.
Theo reached into his bag. Pulled out something small and square.
It was one of her comics. Captain Pink vs. the Sad Cloud.
"I found this in her stuff after… after she left the center."
Pink's knees went weak. She leaned against her locker, eyes filling with tears.
"She kept it," she whispered.
Theo nodded. "She said it reminded her to hold on. Even when her brain felt broken."
Pink took the comic with shaking hands.
"Is she… is she gone again?"
Theo hesitated. Then nodded. "She left the center last winter. No one's seen her since."
Another disappearance. Another hole.
But this time, it felt different. She wasn't just gone. She had fought. She had tried. She had carried Pink's silly comic into that fight.
That meant something.
Maybe Nova didn't win. But maybe she passed something on.
Pink signed up for the art showcase the next day. Not because she felt ready. But because she had to do something.
She spent the next week drawing like her life depended on it.
Pages and pages of a new comic. One that wasn't about superheroes or saving the world.
It was about a girl with a hollow brain. One filled with fog and echoes. She wandered through strange places, searching for a missing sound—her own voice.
Along the way, she met others. A boy with a cracked heart. A teacher made of paper. A sister shaped like a shadow.
They didn't fix her. But they walked beside her. Until, one day, the girl stood on a hill and screamed into the sky and her voice came back. Small at first. Then louder.
Pink titled it: Empty Brain.
The night of the showcase, her mom came. She didn't say much, but she held Pink's hand the whole time.
Her comic hung on the gallery wall beside paintings and sculptures and poetry.
People stopped to read it.
Some cried. Some nodded. One girl with rainbow braids whispered, "I feel like this comic is me."
Pink smiled for the first time in days.
When it was over, Ms. Rayna hugged her.
"You did it," she said.
Pink shook her head. "I'm just starting."
She looked up at the sky as they left. It was clear tonight, full of stars.
Somewhere out there, Nova was a flicker in the dark.
But Pink wasn't in the dark anymore.
She was walking toward the light one shaky step at a time.
Two weeks after the showcase, Pink got a phone call.
It was early. Her mom was in the kitchen, making pancakes. Pink's phone buzzed across the table. Unknown number.
She almost didn't answer.
"Hello?" Her voice was small.
Silence. Then a breath.
"Pink?"
She froze.
It was Nova.
Pink's knees buckled. She slid into the nearest chair.
"Nova?" she whispered.
"I saw your comic," Nova said. "Someone posted it online. I didn't know if I should call. But I couldn't stop thinking about it."
Tears spilled down Pink's cheeks. She tried to speak, but the words caught.
"I didn't think I'd ever hear your voice again," she finally said.
"I didn't think I'd ever use it again," Nova replied.
They sat in silence, the kind that feels full, not empty.
"Are you okay?" Pink asked.
"I don't know," Nova said honestly. "But I'm trying. I'm in a small town now. Near the coast. Working at a bookstore. It's quiet."
"I miss you."
"I miss you too."
Pink swallowed hard. "Why did you leave?"
Nova was quiet. Then she said, "Because I didn't know who I was anymore. And I didn't want you to see me like that."
Pink shook her head, even though Nova couldn't see it.
"You didn't have to protect me. I needed you. Even broken."
Nova laughed softly. "Still the smartest one."
Pink smiled through her tears. "Still the saddest comic nerd."
"Hey," Nova said. "Don't be mean to my favorite artist."
They talked for twenty minutes. Pink didn't ask when she was coming home. She didn't want to scare her away. She just listened.
When they said goodbye, Nova said, "Keep drawing, okay?"
And Pink promised, "Only if you keep living."
Three days later, Pink got a letter in the mail.
No return address. Just her name in Nova's handwriting.
Inside was a polaroid of Nova smiling, standing in front of the ocean, holding a book called The Courage to Be Lost.
And a note.
Dear Pink,
Talking to you gave me something I forgot I had. A reason.
You are braver than you think. You're not empty. You're just searching.
Me too.
I'm not ready to come back yet. But I'm closer. I can feel it.
Tell Mom I'm okay. And tell the girl who made "Captain Pink vs. the Sad Cloud" that she saved someone's life.
Love,
Nova
Pink read it three times.
Then she picked up her pen
Pink's next comic wasn't about a sad brain or a missing voice.
It was about two sisters one chasing stars, one planting roots.
It was about letters and silence and long-distance love.
She called it: The Sound of Coming Back
People read it.
People shared it.
People messaged her and said, "This feels like me."
And for the first time, Pink didn't feel so alone in the world.
She didn't know what would happen next.
But she didn't feel lost anymore.
Just… unfinished.
And that was okay.
Because stories don't end.
They evolve.