“I’m sorry, girl.” Lily stroked the mane, “I’m sorry.” Lady pulled away and shook her head.
“Hey, hey,” Lily took a minute to collect herself. “I don’t like this any more than you do.” Lily began to brush again. She gently brought her brush through the hair again and again like waves on the beach. She was interrupted when she hit a knot.
“Alright hold on,” she pulled gently, and stopped, and pulled gently again. Lady huffed and tried to pull away but Lily brought her back in. “Just a second, girl,” with her hand on one side of Lily’s head she pulled, “I’ll be gentle I promise.” After a moment, the knot came out.
“See, see.” She pet Lady’s head slowly. “Shit,” Lily pulled herself away for a moment, doing anything she could to stop the tear from falling. “Goddamnit girl,” Lady looked right at Lily, almost waiting for her hand on her head again. “Shit.” She let the words splat like bird shit on a windshield. She put her hand on Lady to stabilize herself. “Let’s just… Y’know… We gotta do this.” Lady jerked her head away. Lily wrapped her arms around her and buried her head in the mane. She’s unable to speak, vocal cords in knots.
Usually the sound was like the roar of an airplane
Or the rumble of armies charging together
But this time each step was a bomb being dropped
They ripped through the valley
It felt as if she was flying
Like it did every time
They had run so much
Or she had, with her
Showing her Lady’s world
She wanted to lose the key
To run so far she could never find the door
To not remember how she came
There was nothing better than being wild with her
Than being wild
Than being with her
This is what is must be like to be alive
They stopped right before the big wide open field. Lily stared at it for a while. She looked at Lady’s eyes, she didn’t know what to say. After a moment, she grabbed Lady into an embrace. They stayed silent for a moment.
“I love you.” It’s all she could get out. Waterfalls from her eyes, Lily pulled away. She didn’t know what to do. “Go,” is all she said, “Go.” Lily tried to shoo her away. Lady looked at her… and ran. She ran alone while Lily sobbed. She tried, but she couldn’t get herself to raise the shotgun. The more she heard the sound of hooves on the ground, the tighter the knot in her stomach grew. Then the sound stopped. When she realized, Lily looked up. Lady was standing away, looking dead at Lily. She reared up, and charged back at Lily. Lily bawled again, but this time she didn’t know why. In a matter of seconds, Lady flew by, a tornado whipping past Lily. She turned and looked on, watching her run. She thought for a moment. About her. About running. And she took off too. She ran until it didn’t feel like she had legs anymore. She followed in her tracks into the valley, into the world.