Destiny

Chapter 1

    My face is wet with tears and my pillow damp as I release another round of sobs. It's already been a week since Hersheys death and I'm still a wreck.

    Mom and Dad have to coax me out of my room to do anything.

    They understand I need time to heal but I can tell that they are worried about me.

     It doesn't matter. I am never going to love another horse every again. I just couldn't go through something happening to another horse.

    Besides, Hersheys death was my fault any way. I shouldn't have ever tried to barrel race that cold rainy day but the eagerness to win took over me.

     Hershey was always a sweetheart. He would do absolutely anything you ever wanted. You could have taken him to the moon and back. He didn't even question my decision that cold rainy day.

       It was the day of a barrel race that would qualify Hershey and I for nationals.

      I was so excited and Hershey was too. But Hershey got caught up in a fight between two horses and severely injured his leg.

      My stupidity caused me to decide to race him anyway.Hersheys strong, I thought, its only a little limp.

     What I didn't know was Hershey was being strong for me. He really was hurting badly.

      The starter yelled go and Hershey and I burst from the gate and towards the first barrel as the rain drumming on the roof grew louder.

       We made a smooth turn around the first barrel but I could tell something was wrong.

        I should have pulled Hershey up then but I just kept thinking, we can finish this.

         We knocked the second barrel but I kept going thinking that we just needed to finish.

          Hershey made it around the third barrel and we were headed for home when I felt it. Hersheys leg gave way.

          We tumbled to the ground my leg trapped beneath Hershey.

           He tried to push himself up to allow me to get out and he moved just enough for me to pull my leg out.

         Hershey lay there completely silent in his pain.

        I began stroking his mane and sobbing. The rain on the roof began to pound down and I could here thunder.

          People began yelling and scrambling to get us medical attention.

     

        One person started trying to pry me away from Hershey but I held on to him and sobbed until they let me go.

           The vet came and examined Hershey before shaking his head and I knew we couldn't save him. We couldn't even move Hershey out of the arena.

          Somebody began pulling me away again and this time I let them but not before kissing Hersheys muzzle for the last time and looking into his beautiful brown eyes and whispering into his ear

     "I will always love you"

           They led me away from Hershey and took me to get checked out by a medical team. I looked back at Hershey for the last time as the vet was about to began the euthanasia.

     He was strong to the very end.