Behind A Horses Eyes

-Cassia's Point Of View-

I watched the last rider exit the arena, my stomach filled with butterflies. He had knocked down three poles - plus a refusal. My first ever jumping show. On my first ever horse.

I enter the arena and wait as my horse dances nervously.

'Go!' we canter towards the first jump. I can feel the bay pony speed up. Why not let her go?

I loosen my reins a bit and she strides suddenly lengthen and go more floaty. We sail over the first three jumps. Here is the fourth. I can feel my pony slowing down. We're not going to make it.

Oh yes we are.

We go over the jump as if it isn't even there. We do the same with the next jump. But here comes the sixth. This is the one nearly all of the horses has refused and most riders have fallen off.

It happens in slow motion.

My pony stops at the last moment before cat leaping over the jump. I loose my balance and fall. Pain floods into my wrist. My pony spooks and canters away, nearly kicking me in the face. I roll over.

'Ow....' I whisper.

'Cassia!' I hear someone nervously call my name. Then blackness.

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I wake up in a hospital room, my head spinning. What am I doing here?

The fall.

'Ah, miss Cancer. You've woken! How are you doing?' asks a nurse as she checks my blood pressure.

'Fine, just a bit dizzy,' I say, truthfully. The nurse smiles, takes down some notes and leaves. She comes back after five minutes with a doctor.

'Okay miss Cancer, you can go now. Are you ready?' the doctor asks.

'Yeah, I suppose so,' I slip out of bed and put my coat and shoes on. 'How long have I been out?' I ask.

The doctor and nurse exchange glances.

'Must be about...two hours? Yes, about two hours,' the nurse says.

I hop in the taxi they called and tell the driver my adress. Where is my horse? Well, obviously he won't be here but how is he doing? Must be back at Pinewood Stables. I check my watch and see I've been gone for seven hours now. Dad won't be worried. He never worries. Mum will doubtlessly be at work. Or in a club. I can't go home just yet. I need to see my horse!

'Change of plan, go to Pinewood Stables please,' I say to the taxi driver. He sighs.

'Never heard of it.' he says. This guy is such a bad liar. I leave it at that anyway and we arrive outside my house.

'Thank you,' I say, handing over the money. He mutters something before speeding off. Okay, here is my plan:

1) Go around my house and into the back garden.

2) Grab my bike.

3) Cycle to the stables.

4) See my horse.

This is hopeless. But it has to work.

My plan has failed before I even start.

The front door is flung open and a figure is in the doorway. My dad.

'Get in the house. NOW!' he shouts, making me jump. I run into the house and glance at my dad.

'So...I get phone calls and everything. You've been at the hospital, eh?' he says.

'Yes,' I say, looking at my feet.

'You were doing that damn horse riding again, weren't you?' he damands. 'ANSWER!'

'Yes,'

'WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT IT? IT'S DANGEROUS! IT WAS THE DEATH OF YOUR AUNTIE!' he shouted.

Auntie Selma died in a riding accident. It wasnt her fault or the horses. Things like that happen. But you have got to be prepared for risks while riding. Dad doesn't seem to understand how much I love it, though. I was fine, only blacked out for a bit. I suddenly realise my wrist is in a cast. How did I not notice that? It was hurting a bit but I ignored it. Is it broken or sprained? Hmm....

'CASSIA!'

'Sorry dad, I'm really sorry. It won't happen again,' I say, scurrying towards the door.

'Too right it won't because your grounded. And I'm telling your mum,' he said. Oh, I'm in a whole lot of trouble.

When mum comes home I can hear them talking. I'm upstairs, in my room. Mum is stomping up the stairs rather loudly. I jump into bed. Please go away...

'Cassia! Are you in here?' I hear mum calling. She sighs and walks in. Please think I'm asleep.

'I know you're not asleep!' crap.

I sit up and face mum. Her face is red and she looks angry and hurt. I'm sorry mum, please forgive me. You know how much I love riding, just like you did when you were little...

'Yes, but I didn't sneak off behind my parents backs to go to a jumping show when I knew all the risks,' mum said.

'What?'

'You said you love riding just like I did.' damn, I should stop thinking out loud. Mum sighs and leaves my room, closing the door softly behind her. Fucking Feathers, what have I done?

I know the solution. I'm never going to ride again. It makes my parents unhappy and it's...it's...too much work. Yeah, too much. My cousin will happily take my pony. He took over the farm when auntie Selma died. I'll ring him now.

'Hello? I have a very busy life, you know,' I hear my cousin say.

'Kieran? Can you take my pony? I'm giving up riding.' I say, trying to hold back the tears.

'Cassia! Of course. Why are you giving up? Hello? Hello?' I don't speak for what seems like ages. When I finally do, I can't stop the tears.

'It makes everyone unhappy. Please, just pick her up today.' I sob.

'But does it make you unhappy?'

'Please!'

'Of course I will, Cassia, but if you change your mind, she will be at my farm. I'll pick her up.'

'Today?' I ask, hopefully.

'Perhaps not today. I'll come down first thing tomorrow morning. Okay?'

'Okay.' I end the call and lay on my bed, sobbing my heart out.

What have I done?

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Hey guys! So that was my first chapter of Behind A Horses Eyes.

Pretty good? What d'ya think? :D

This chapter was dedicated to my best friend, Lucy W who told me about wattpad. Check out her awesome book, Forest Child :P

Keep Smiling!

Love ashlynbrennan xxxxxx