But before I can sink too far into those dour thoughts, a pat on my leg from a pink hoof draws me back to the present. "It's okay," Starla affirms, smiling again as I meet her eyes. "That was a long time ago, and it's just distant memories that can do no harm. Going through that helped shape me into... well, the me of today. I guess that's why I always try to have a bright outlook – every day really is a gift compared to the past and what it could have led to."