I went into town to pick up some food for the animals that stayed at my farm with me. I have two horses, one cat and one dog. I live alone for I do not get along with other people very well. So I tend to stay away and decided to move farther away, it took about 2-3 hours to get from my farm into town. After I got my feed for the animals, I was thinking of whether I should pick some more food up for me. I ended up picking up some good for myself. As I got into my car I quietly looked through the window and realized it was going to start storming. I quickly left the parking lot and started home. As I was driving home, it started pouring, I had to slow my speed a bit so I wouldn't slip. I turned up the radio, i heard my favorite song start to play "See you again". I pulled out some pockys that I bought and started eating it. My mind started to drift, remembering some old memories of my friends and family. My ex came to mind and quickly shook the thought off.
"I can't believe I'm already 25" I sighed "5 years after the accident..."
I trailed off and glanced at a photo i had on the passengers side of the truck. The photo was nice framed with roses on the corners, each a different color, not too flashy, but I nice hint of pastel colors to them. The colors had faded and had dust over the frame. I brushed my hand over the glass that held the photo, the photo was of me and Zack. For his 20th birthday I surprised him and blindfolded him, I waited for the prefect moment and got hugged him from behind. Some how he knew what i was doing and quickly recovered and picked me up for a piggy back ride. The photo captured that innocent moment of him standing up with me on his back holding onto him, my arms wrapped around his as if my hands were a sweater. The next song came on and I quickly snapped out of my memories. I grabbed my jacket and threw it on the photo. Tears rolled down my cheeks and i stuffed more pockies in my mouth. It was dark and I was almost home maybe about 20 minutes away. I suddenly saw an animal in my headlights, I panicked thinking maybe one of my animals had gotten out. I quickly swerved into the other lane and off the rode into a small ditch. I mumbled under my breath as I grabbed the flashlight on the passengers side floor board. I carefully got out of my truck, trying not to slip, I shinned the light at the animal in front of me.
"Wow" I breathed "You're not mine, are you lost?"
I knew that he wouldn't understand me but he continued to back further and further up the road. My hair was soaked and I could see the bones that his pelt stuck to. I gasped seeing his bones. I quietly and carefully backed up to the truck, and opened the back door. I could see her was curious because as I walked away he slowly took inches between us away. I finally got some chicken that I had saved for dinner and tore some meat into chunks, I tossed a bit in front of him. He looked at me and then at the food, he sniffed it and prodded it with his paw before eating it. He looked back up at me and tilted his head. I starred in amazement at his feathers. His ears were down along with feathers, pressed up against his back. He pawed the ground and I snapped back and tore off another piece and tossed it in front of him again. I stepped closer and closer to him as I tossed more food to him, about 30 minutes later he let me stand in front of him, the last piece of chicken I had, I placed on my palm and held my hand out. He looked at the food thinking of whether he should eat it or not, I reached my hand out a little and he flinched back. We waited in the rain for what seemed endless, but was actually 5 minutes, until he reached out and ate the chicken from my hand. I tried to reach out to see if he would let me pet him. I held my hand out waiting to see what he would do. He finally let me pet him and brushed his head up against my palm. I went back to my truck and got some more of my food, and set the food in front of him. After setting the food down, I quickly ran back to my truck and turned the truck on, I looked over at the creature in the street, he continued to stuff his face, I smiled. I backed my truck up and got evenly in the ditch. I got out and stepped carefully on the mud. I opened my back door and got a rope and shut the door. I ran to the other side of the truck and got my backpack and stuffed my food inside it. I shut the door and locked my truck. He jumped at the noise and looked at me, I reached my hand out and patted his head.
"It's alright" I smiled.
While he finished eating his food, I tied a loop in the rope to put on his neck. Carefully I reached out to set the rope on his neck, he looked at me, confused.
"It's alright, it's just so I can lead you" I whispered.
He stood still as he let me set the rope around his neck.
"That's perfect" I kissed his head and ran my hand through his feathers. "Come on, let's go home. You can sleep in the house after I wash you down."
I slightly tugged his rope and he carefully walked towards me. Each step taking longer than the first. He finally reached me and I continued walking as he walked beside me. As we were walking home I was telling him stories of my past about Zack. Every time I'd cry he'd always nudge me a bit and look at me with gentle eyes. I would stop and hug him and we continued walking towards me house.
