Yearning to Live

One Last Time

The gate flew open and I dug my hooves into the ground and took off. I tore through the ground as I inched closer to the rail. I extended my legs as much as I could, stretched my neck out and drove through the clubhouse turn. Majestic Beauty came up beside me, but she couldn't surpass me. I let her run, till she could run no more. Deep into the stretch and into the beginning of the turn, I could feel horses approach me, but only to fade moments later. Then Anna went blank. This was exactly where we had crashed. I freaked out and lost my stride. I stumbled, landing on my knees. I got up as fast as I could. Anna was on so I started running. She soon snapped back to reality. We started to gain good speed midway through the turn. We were in the middle of the crowd with Sealed Fate. Then Sealed Fate plowed through a gap, and we followed in pursuit. Turning for home, I saw Majestic Beauty at the quarter mile marker. Anna turned me loose. I extended fully and I stretched my neck out. We got even with Majestic Beauty with 1½ furlongs to go. Sealed Fate came up beside us. I saw Else jerk the reins. She rammed Sealed Fate into us. I almost wiped out. I regained balance and pushed through. I fell behind a length with a furlong to go. I felt something deep inside. I stretched my legs out even further. Anna turned me wide. I went for it. I found my hidden reserve. It made me feel free. The wind whipped my name back and it was a cooling touch to my aches. It made me feel lighter like I wasn't sweating. Anna rubbed just on my whithers, bringing me out of my thoughts. With a ½ furlong to go, I kept my speed up. I was incredibly wide. I went around two horses and I stayed wide. Almost in the middle of the track. I pricked my ears up. The wind felt joyous. Anna bent over my neck a little more, waiting to stand up and pump a victorious fist into the air. I eased up toward the finish. I saw the poles flash by. I eased up and Anna turned me around and we started trotting toward Tom as he approached. He took me by the reins and brought me to the winner's circle. I was blanketed with flowers and soon after washed and groomed. I was then put in my stall. A week later, I would travel back home.