bravo, jest

♘ chapter 4

The next morning Nadia was awake before the birds were, at a time that was before when the sun started to spread her warmth across the stunning land she nourished. She ate a quick breakfast before pulling on her running shoes and jogging across the property she lived on. In order to have the best shot at winning the competition and it's prize of $35,000 both her and her horse had to be fit. the morning air was crisp against the bare skin of her arms and the morning dew made the paddocks look as though the blades of grass were encrusted with diamonds. as she neared the corner of the paddock where Jest was standing, he turned to look at her and whinnied.

"What are you doing?" he seemed to say.

Nadia was breathless and only raised a hand in greeting to her horse. He trotted up to her, expecting her to stop and give him cuddles so he was surprised when she kept running past him. He tossed his head, & the sun shone through the parts of his multicolored mane for a split second before he cantered up beside his rider. When he reached her side he slowed to a trot & shook his head again. Nadia couldn't help but laugh as joy raced through her veins. Love radiated between the two as they cherished the bond they had between them. Nadia neared Jest and lengthened her stride. Jest broke into a canter and they moved in sync for three strides before Nadia grabbed hold of the front of his rug and vaulted onto his back. She held onto his mane and used pressure on her outside leg to guide Jest to the front fence. The golden rays of sunlight fell softly on them, outlining the pair in a gold aura that showed the pure connection between them. Euphoria is the only word you could use to give the feelings Nadia felt mercy. It was pure bliss. She slowed Jest to a trot as they neared the fence, then a walk and a halt. She slipped off his side and immediately flung her arms around him.

"You have no idea how much I love you, buddy," she said and suddenly the enormity of the things that she could lose crashed onto her. Tears began well up in her eyes. "I love you so much, so, so much." She started to cry, long, heaving sobs came from her chest and out her mouth. She slowly sank to the ground, breaking under the realisation that her best friend might be taken away from her. She felt like screaming. 

"Why does this have to happen to me?" Nadia said to no one in particular. "I can't deal with this, I can't, I can't." She dropped her head into her hands and continued to cry, her cheeks streaked with tears. Her shoulders were heaving as she wept & she felt as though the world was ending. Softly, Jest nuzzled Nadia's head, causing her to look up. Her teary green eyes met his perplexed brown ones and in his look Jest told her, "I'm here, I'm here." and in that moment he was & that was all that mattered.