Meadow

Moonlight touched her back like the light tip of a paintbrush, bringing to life the still and silent mare. Around her, the air was drenched in the scent of the sea, salty and wild. Stargazer closed her chocolate eyes against the nipping wind, allowing it to push through her mane and caress the rest of her body. What has been the point of this all? Was there ever a point? These were the questions that tumbled across her hungry mind as she allowed herself to feel every sensation around her.

This was never home. Mother moved us so often, so often that I lost father. I don’t know if he’s dead, alive, if he enjoyed any bit of his life. I should have stayed with grandmother like Blueshark. I should have known mother would always be a gypsy. I should have said no.” Her optics flashed open as images of Laila appeared behind her lids, the white of the upside down heart on her forehead burning into her. Her blind eye remained still while the other searched the banks, trying to make sense of her current situation. Of all the disappointments life had so lovingly handed her. It seemed so long ago that she had been the moonchild, held in rapture by dreams and hope. Faith in love, faith in the good of every equine.

What a joke. The grey mare had learned that good was a fleeting quality. Evil, hard hearted, mean-spirited, equines were all she ever seemed to find. So why did she still hold onto hope against all odds? Why did she think she could find something different? Beyond all that, why did she think she could escape the past when such demons could kill stronger willed mares than herself? Blowing a gust of wind from her lungs, Stargazer allowed her eye to drift toward the sky and all it’s brilliant, shimmering lights. I just want to be whole again.