I remember it as though it were yesterday. I was seven years old and it was just another crisp, early, summer morning in the small town of Clermont. Wrong. That day was actually the day that would change my life forever… or so I thought.

The sun hadn’t risen yet and the morning birds were silent. It was serene and peaceful the way the dew lingered on the grass, water clinging to every blade, the fog hovered just above. Perfect day to learn to ride a horse. My whole family owned horses, including me. Her name was Black. She was a pristine, fourteen year old, black as midnight, Arabian Welsh with a white diamond on her forehead, and she was my best friend. Even though I couldn’t ride her, we had a connection I had yet to find in any human. Our relationship went well beyond me getting to pet her in exchange for food and shelter. We had both been longing for this day to come for as long as I could remember. It had only been last night at our wooden dinner table that my father had suggested it.

“Isn’t it about time that Heather learned to ride?” he had said. So this morning I had arose early, there was no way I would be able to sleep in. I geared up in my boots and helmet for good measure. Creeping out into the still pitch black living room I navigated my way to my parents room using the faint light of the clock by the TV. It informed me that it was already four AM! I walked a little faster to their room. How long did it take my mom to get ready? I pushed the door open noiselessly only to find them both still curled up asleep.

“mom!” I said incredulously. How could she still be asleep on a day such as this? She moaned unmoving.

“Mom come on! Its time to get up so you can teach me to ride.” I said impatiently giving her a little nudge. She squinted her eyes open just enough to see the time on her clock before heaving a heavy sigh.

“Heather, it’s four in the morning. Go back to sleep”. And with that, she rolled over, leaving me to sit in my disappointment. I tried to do as she instructed. I dragged myself back to my room, shoulders slumped and head hanging. I removed the gear I had so hastily thrown on. I climbed onto my bed, switched off my lamp, and crawled under my quilt. I tossed and turned every two minutes. There was no way I would be able to sleep! This was impossible. All I could do was think about the way the wind would feel whipping through my hair. Everything disappearing and it being only Black and I, the world passing by us. The way it would feel to be free. This was not working. At four thirty, I relinquished any idea of ever sleeping again. I scrambled out of bed and put on my boots and helmet again. I walked hastily to my parents room. Thirty minutes was plenty more time to sleep… right?

“Mom?” I tentatively spoke poking my head in.

“Go back to sleep.” she said annoyance hinting in her tone. I sighed and trudged back to my room. Again, I removed the boots and helmet, and climbed into bed. Would I ever learn to ride? Obviously, this day was going to be the death of me. I closed my eyes, trying to rid my mind of everything. A blank, black, screen. Black screen. Black. Still not working. I stood up and paced my room. Finally, I concluded that another hour was plenty of rest for her and that now she was just being lazy. I mean come on, the day was already half gone… kind of. Again I slipped on my boots and helmet. I walked into their room, expecting to find her bustling about getting dressed. But no. The woman was still sleeping!

“Mom! Come on!”

“That’s it. We wont be riding today! Now go back to sleep!” I felt the tears well up in my eyes threatening to cascade down my rosy cheeks. I made the long, despairing walk back to my room and with great disappointment took off my boots and helmet.