Heartland: All I Need Is You

II.

It's funny how years can fly by so quick. It's now been five years since my Mira has passed. We still celebrate her birthday every year with a beautiful ride along the countryside as Amy and myself swap our favorite memories of our little girl. Every since Mira's funeral, I have filled our barn with horses for Amy, but she still isn't happy. Amy lays awake at night remembering our Mira, often times ending with her crying herself to sleep in my arms. It's been rough adjusting but we're making the best of it.

Five years to the date our Mira departed from our world and into a newer world where she doesn't have to hurt any longer. I can tell Amy misses her dearly, and every time I try to comfort her, telling her that Mira's purpose here was to fill our life with the joy of a child for such a short time, Amy falls to pieces. It's hard coping, especially with Amy torn up. I'm not condoning Amy for her grieving, I just want our lives to go to some normality but with Mira in our minds in everything we do.

Amy and I deciding for today to take our usual ride that we do for her birthday, but instead go up to the cemetery and place flowers on Mira's grave. We haven't been back to the grave sight since Mira's funeral. I know it'll be challenging for both of us, but it might give Amy some closure.

Once we tacked up and we're on our way to the cemetery, we stopped on the trail to pick some bright and resident wild flowers. Amy picked the best out of the bunch, saying that they reminded her of Mira's bright look in life even though here was cut short. I can honestly say this was the first time Amy has said something about Mira without breaking down.

We finally made our way to the little cemetery off the hillside where our Mira and Amy's mom are buried. We decided to bury Mira beside Marion in remembrance of both of them. We ride yo to the gate and hop off our horses. I still have my first horse Harley and Amy is on Spartan. We tie our horses off, open the gate, and walk through straight to the two graves. As we were walking I fell in step behind Amy to allow her to pay her respects to both her mother and daughter. Amy had the freshly picked wildflowers in her hands as she stood in front of the two graves. She then falls to her knees and splits the bouquet in half, placing a half on each grave. She sits there for a moment without a tear shed or without saying a word. I take a step forward to her and kneel down beside her right as she collapses into my arms. I hold her to comfort her as tears stream down my face. For the second time in my life, I've felt helpless. The first time I couldn't cure my daughter from her illness. Now I can't cure my wife from her grieving.

After crying the last of my tears and with Amy still in my lap, I gently kiss the top of Amy's head. I then ask her if she's ready to leave. She doesn't move or make a sound which was odd for her. She has never just flat out ignored me before.

Maybe she's fallen asleep? I asked myself. I nudge Amy slightly, but she doesn't make a sound. I start to get concerned and flipped her over to we're I can see her face. I wipe away her golden blonde hair away from her crystal blue eyes. The motionless, expressionless face tells me everything. I quickly, but gently place Amy son the ground to where I can get up. Once I'm on my feet I bend over and pick up Amy Bridle style. I had no clue what was wrong with her but needed to find out quick.

She's all I need.

...

The heat monitor beeps in my right ear as I sit beside my beautiful wife. It's been three days since our ride up to Mira's and Marion's graveside. The doctors have been running test non stop since we've gotten here. After I picked up Amy off the ground I gently placed her up on Spartan and ponies them back to the bottom of the hill where i had cell service. I had called jack to have the trick ready for when I got to the house.

Now as I sit her listening to her heart being pumped by life support, I recall the 16 years I've gotten to know this wonderful girl. It's funny how Clint sent me to heartland as "punishment" but it was the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Clint could've picked any other place but it was heartland and Marion who had enough faith in me to change me around. I not only have to give credit to Jack for taking me under his wing and finished raising me, but also to Marion who I never got to personally meet. She is the one to truly thank for setting me up with her daughter. She was the first ones to sign my probation papers before her accident. Marion truly had picked out the right guy for her daughter. She had everything already planned out.