Chapter One

They say when someone close leaves you, you lose a part of yourself. I believe that. Whoever said it though forgot to mention if that part ever comes back. I myself  think that it does. Others would say it doesn't, but those people haven't seen the worst of it.
       My story begins in a small town in Washington. My family owns a little farm about fifty acres. We were loading up the trailer with our five time award winning Paso Fino, Ebony Night, when a truck backed into the trailer, killed my father and injured his horse.
"Amy? Are you okay?" my mom asked
"Yeah, my leg hurts but I will be fine."
I wanted to think I would be fine but I really wasn't. My dad was dead, his horse injured. My world was falling apart.
"Amy, sweetheart come downstairs for a minute." mom called up the stairs.  
"Just a minute mom!" I yelled from my bedroom
I walked out of my room and down the steps as slowly as possible. I really didn't want to leave the comfort of my room, but I didn't want to make mom mad.
"What is it mom?" I asked
"I have a surprise for you."
Oh gosh, when mom has a surprise it can be good or bad. Mostly bad but there is an occasional good surprise here and there.
"Follow me to the barn Amy."
"Do I have to?" I asked
"Yes, you have to see Ebony sometime. You can't just forget about him. He needs you."
She was right I couldn't just act like this was all his fault. Besides, I miss him. It wasn't his fault my father was gone.
"Okay mom what is it?"
"Close your eyes. NO PEEKING!" she said
I heard the barn door slide open. I could hear the neighs and whinnies of our horses.
"Mom! Can I open my eyes yet?!?!"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
I opened my eyes and standing in front of me is a gleaming white Paso Fino mare.
"Oh mom! She's beautiful!" I exclaimed
"Do you like her?"
"Like her?! I love her!!!! What is her name?"
"Accented With Snow"
"That's beautiful! I love it! But why did you get her?"
"Well, since Ebony is injured, I thought that she would be a good horse to compete with until Ebony gets better."
"You really think that getting a new horse will make everything better? Really?!?!" I thought to myself
It wasn't that I didn't want to keep her, it was just what makes her think that Ebony won't be healed in time for the next competition? Sure he had a broken leg, but he broke it three months ago. It should be better by now. Right? He'll get better, he has to. He's all I have left of dad. He'll get better. Those words ran through my mind.
"Amy, if you want I can sell Snow." she spoke softly
"No, it's fine. I think she will be a champion just like Ebony."
I left the barn and went up to my room. I put in my headphones and fell asleep. That night I dreamed about dad. Oh how I missed him. I could feel tears forming in my eyes.
"Why did you have to leave us daddy?" I thought to myself. I fell asleep crying that night. Mom came in fifteen minutes later turned my light off and kissed my head. She too missed dad. We all did.