Yearning to Live

Reunited

It has been six months since the accident. I'm back at the stables and Natasha has been lightly exercising me around the track and they've been lunging me daily making sure I'm not getting worse. Benny moved and and his brother joined us recently. Leo is a gray blue cat with the same white markings as Benny. They keep each other company when I'm gone. Today, I was led out of my stall early and exercised real lightly today. I was tacked up and Natasha sat on my back. She led me out to the track. We walked a lap, then cantered a lap, and the walked a cool off lap, and she led me off the track. She untacked me, and Tom groomed me until my coat was super soft and silky. He led me to my stall and gave me some food and more water. The cats were happily eating together in the corner of the stall. I started eating and the stall was filled with the sound of cats purring.

Later in the afternoon, Mady came by and attached a lead rope to my halter. I was led outside but nowhere near the track. I pricked my ears up wondering what we were doing now. I heard a van pull up and its brakes squeal the metal truck to a grinding halt. It parked and someone new came out of the car. They walked over to us and Natasha came up and took my lead rope as Mady and this girl walked off to the barn. I waited with Natasha. It was a good couple of minutes before we couldn't hear Mady's voice bounce off the walls of the barn. That's when Natasha put her hand into her pocket, clearly looking for something. I bent my head down and sniffed trying to see what she was looking for. She started to giggle and she declared her success when she found what she was looking for. I lifted my head up still looking at pocket to see what she was going to pull out. She looks at me, starts laughing again and then whips her hand from her pocket. I follow her hand and she laughs harder. Then Natasha reveals what she had in her hand. A sugar cube. I quickly snatch the treat away from her hand and I eat the delicious snack. I lick her hand in case there is some of the decadent goodness left. Their isn't, but Natasha gets a kick out of it and starts laughing hysterically. I let out a small snort and she giggles like a little girl. I heard a car honk in the driveway. Natasha collects herself and I lift .y head and point my ears toward the car straining to see who it is. The owner of the barn Jasmine gets out of the car. Then the passenger door opens. I see two black metal poles hit the ground. Then I see a person swing out of the car using the poles to walk. I instantly recognize her. I ditch Natasha, yanking the lead rope from her grip. I cantered over to the car hearing Natasha warning my favorite person. Anna. She sees me and looks up from the ground to see me charge at her. I halt just in front of her. She lets go of her crutches and hugs my neck. I slung my head over her shoulder. With Anna back, I knew we would reach the finish line, together.