Aries

chapter 13

What do I do? Ash seems to love that horse and she is my best friend. I owe her something. Could Aries leaving me be worth my friendship?

These thoughts clouded my head as I lay awake on my bed. I couldn't stand it. Yes, Ash was my best friend but recently I've been feeling left out all she would talk about was how much she loved Aries. It was an infinite loop of regret that I was stuck in. Take Aries myself and Ash would never forgive me and I would regret loosing a friend. Let Ash take Aries and regret loosing a mare I loved. I couldn't handle it anymore, almost leaping out my bed I creeped over to my door and took my puffer jacket off the hanger and shuffled over to the window. Opening the curtains, I notice just how scary the dark is but I mustnt fear it. At least not tonight, once I met up with Ash after her dramatic text and she explained how they planned to pick up Aries and trailer her back to Maiyas estate. I pull open the stiff window and begin climbing out. It's cold but I still continue sliding down the roof and running towards the tree.

I remember vaguely there was a short cut behind the inside arena that led directly to the tree. This was a small memory and could have even been my imagination but I didn't want to loose this horse. I pull my hood over my head as the wind had picked up once I had gotten behind the remains of the arena. Standing before me was what I remember to be a beautiful, rustic riding arena with beautiful lights and décor however now it sat in a crumpled pile of brick with a small peek of what looks to be the construction my dad had started planning . I find the overgrown path leading into a large, thick forest.

The only sounds were of my feet thumping against the mud floor and the chirps of crickets somewhere out in the fields. Every now and then you could sense the silence, feel it creeping around the trees and over the thick canopy of leaves. Continuing along, I start to loose track of the path but walk about tripping over roots and walking into thorn bushes.

Suddenly, I hear an engine. I stop. Dead in my tracks. My mind spirals. Who is up this early. I glance at my phone and see the time is half three. I didn't have much time and start running about dramatically hoping to relocate the path and see my way to the tree. After what feels like half an hour I find a dirt track. Following this I hear yells and shouts. What was happening? Did people know I was out? Were they trying to find me? I find a small gap between two trees and peek through. My eyes are met with a horrifying sight.

There was Aries tied up being dragged into a trailer.
"no..." I whisper close to tears.
I run back towards my house and find the barn and begin mucking out and feeding the horses. It was five o'clock no one would be surprised I was up and working at this time. After working for an hour I walk out into mouse and Ruby's pasture where I sit near the corner and watch Ruby slowly make her way over to me. She rests her small head into my lap just like Aries did and a tear drops into her coat. I slowly start to drift to sleep when my phone buzzes in my pocket. It was Ash.
" Courtney! Look who is in my pasture! It's the horse!" She attaches a photo and it was of Aries staring out towards the flower field. She missed her home already.
"What should I name it?"
" It's a girl"
"She's really fast!"
"Hello?"
Another year drops on my face.
"I'll name her Lilly!"
I laugh, will Aries respond to her new name? Maybe I should visit? What if I ruin everything for Ash.