Memories and Moving On

Most vivid about his childhood memories of his home town was the times he spent at his neighbors farm. He spent every weekend there, and sometimes he'd go over after dinner. He loved to watch the horses in the pasture. He'd watch them for hours. But brushing them wand washing them was his favorite. He loved feeling the strong, sturdy muscles as he stroked the horse's back and flank. The way the horse's glassy eyes watched him as he did his work.
But he'll never forget that fateful day. The first day he rode a horse was fine. But then when he tried riding the horse by himself, well, that's when everything went wrong.
First he tensed, then the horse threw him backwards. As the horse reared it stepped backward, landing on his shin. Hearing the sickening crunch, and the painful wail, the horse shot forward, running around the track, circling back. The instructor had just reached him and pulled him off the track before racing to calm the horse down.
The next hour was a blur. With the paramedics rushing to his side, the ambulance ride to the hospital, and being prepared for surgery. When he woke up in his hospital room pain came shooting up from his leg. Glancing down he saw that his leg was in a brace. As the nurse explained what had happened he started to feel queasy.  
And now as he stood at the entrance to the horse farm all those memories came flooding back. He glanced down at his prosthetic leg and took in a shaky breath.
"Daddy! Daddy!"
He turned around and opened his arms wide, crouching to scoop up his daughter. His wife came up, laughing, and put her arm around him.
:This is brave of you, sweetheart. I'm proud of you."
"Anything for my two princesses!"
He took another deep breath, shifted his daughter on his hip, took his wife's hand in his and walked toward the barn.

Midnight Emotions

Midnight. Thoughts flooding my mind. Emotions running wild. My body shook, my eyes were blurry, my mind a fog. I rolled over and grabbed my phone. I texted the only person I knew I could. "I could use a hug right now," was all I needed to say. He talked to me, he let me talk at him. I told him things I'd never admitted to anyone. Though tears continued to flow my spirits were lifted. I told him I never wanted to lose him and he said I didn't have a choice: I'm stuck with him forever. After jokes and tears and virtual hugs I started feeling better. My eyes were dry, my smile back. 

It's an amazing feeling knowing that there is even one person who will make you feel better whenever you're feeling down. You may have differing opinions on certain topics, but when you have a mutual respect for each other those differences don't really matter. I love having a friend who will talk with me in the middle of the night until I feel better because he knows I would do the same for him. Friendships like these don't just happen. They're meant to be, predestined by God. Friendships like these aren't easily torn apart, they will stand the test of time. Friendships like these are the ones everyone longs for, but sadly not everyone has. When you have a friend like this they aren't just your best friend, they're your family. Because family isn't defined by blood, family is defined by the people you trust enough to love the way you love your family. Even if you move far away those bonds will hold because not even distance can break the bonds of a family. 

Math Class Scribbles

The raven black horse grazed in the field. Behind him the sun was sinking behind the hill. The impending darkness did not bother the horse. He liked the darkness and the peace that came with it. In the darkness sometimes he heard the growl of a vicious beast, but they didn't scare him. The raven horse knows he can out run any beast if he needs to. In the silent darkness he continued to graze. He eats until he's tired, and then the graceful mustang sleeps. In the morning he will wake, and graze on his kingdom again.

That Summer Seemed To Last Forever

That summer seemed to last forever. From going to summer camp and working on the weekends. This summer Cory was at his uncle's house in California, and I was stuck here in Philadelphia. I couldn't wait until he got home. I'd been waiting three months to see him again. I was lying in the hammock in my backyard in the corner by the fence. I'd been holding my phone waiting for Cory to text me, telling me he was home. But it never came. I kept checking the time, his flight was supposed to be in an hour ago!
I started getting nervous when suddenly, "Hey, Sydney, that looks relaxing."
I jumped up from the hammock so fast I fell over. Cory jumped over the fence and helped me back up. I flung my arms around his neck and he threw his arms around my waist. He spun me around and when he placed me back on the ground he planted a kiss on my cheek.
"Syd, I've missed you so much!"
"I missed you more!"
"Ha, I beg to differ! Oh! But I brought you something from California!" Cory reached into his pocket and pulled out a little black box and handed it to me.
I nervously reached out and took the box. I opened it and inside there was a beautiful necklace with a Golden Gate Bridge charm on it, "Oh, Cory, I love it!" I reached over and and kissed him on the cheek, "Hey! Wait a minute! Why didn't you text me when your plane landed?"
"I wanted to surprise you!"
"Aw aren't you just the best boyfriend ever!"
"Yeah, well, I don't want to brag but..." I punched him in the arm and smirked.
"Hey! You thirsty? My mom made lemonade yesterday."
"Sounds delicious! I've missed your mom's lemonade while I was away."
I smiled, linked my arm through his and laid my head on his shoulder and we walked into my kitchen.

It'd Better Not Happen Again

He didn't understand what he had done to her, but he would by the time she was finished. He sat on the sofa as she paced back and forth ranting to him. She was going on and on about responsibilities and taking things seriously. In his head he ran though all the possible things he could've done. Did he forget to take the trash out? No, this was bigger than that. He watched her pacing, ranting and complaining, and he wondered if she would just tell him what was wrong. No such luck. She just kept scolding. Trying to piece it together for himself he glanced around their small apartment. Suddenly he understood. He stood up and crossed the room, placing his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him.
"I'm so sorry I left the milk out again. I forgot."
She smiled a little, "It better not happen again."
"I'll try my best."

I Promise

"A boy needs his father!" I practically screamed into the phone. I glanced down at my sweet angelic baby, he has no idea how cruel the world truly is.
I had finally gotten up the courage to tell his father about him. I met him last summer. It was just a fling, I never thought anything would happen, I should've been more careful. It's been two months since my little angel was born. That makes a total of eight months I've put off telling his father, and he wasn't taking it very well.
"This is not my responsibility! You can't just tell me I have a son and expect me to just jump in and fawn over him!"
"And why not? You did this! He is partly your responsibility!" I was just about ready to scream.
"I'm not just going to drop everything to take care of a baby that you can't even prove is mine!"
"You know what? I don't need your help! This is more of a courtesy call. You know, 'you have a baby, maybe you want to grow up!' But I don't need your help, I can take care of him by myself!" I hung up my phone and threw it on my bed. I looked down at my baby boy, tears welling up in my eyes. Scooping up my child I held him close against my chest and burst into tears.
I curled up in my bed, holding, my sweet baby, "I'll take care of you," I whispered to him, playing with his little fingers, "I promise."

Fairy Photo Shoot

I felt like a fairy today in my Easter dress so I decided to do a little mini photo shoot in my woods. I only got five pictures because my camera died.