This story is a story that is very close to my heart. It is completely true and may make you cry. This story is dedicated to the memory of moonshine. He may have passed away but he is still alive…in our hearts and memories he can live on forever. My avatar is me riding moonshine the summer before the fire.
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I was nine and it was my first time ever riding a horse. I was scared so much I almost didn’t want to go on. But I loved horses so much. It was a beautiful horse too. They said his name was moonshine. His fur was white with little dots of black. His eyes were warm and loving, he had a gleam in his eye that showed I shouldn’t be afraid. I allowed my dad to put me on the saddle. Then off I went. A feeling that you will never forget…the first time riding a horse.
It was December 1, 2009 (5 years later) the time of year we would throw a Christmas barn show. It was always so much fun! We had held it a little early so the snow wouldn’t interfere. Everyone was outside and ready but I was still grooming moonshine. Only me, moonshine, and the cat were left in the barn. To be festive the barn owner had set up oil lamps around the barn. Suddenly the cat spooked and jumped up, knocking down one of the lit oil lamps. The barn instantly combusted creating a flaming wall between me and moonshine. It all happened so fast that it was like slow motion. I couldn‘t get out, the door was rite by moonshine. He could have just ran out, but he stayed. The smoke was chocking me and moonshine knew. At this point the barn was completely on fire.
That was when moonshine made the move that would change his life forever. Head first moonshine plowed past the flames to me and got me out me out of the flaming barn. Moonshine saved my life. I looked at him, something was different. That gleam in his eyes was gone. My best friend was blind. The flames had burned his eyes so badly that he would never see anything again. His last image was of me….
After a few days I became moonshine’s eyes. I trained him to follow the sound of a bell I would have around my neck at all times. We had a bond formed. One of trust, unbreakable. I made his life as happy as I could. He always knew it was me. Even blind. I loved that horse so much. It killed me inside as I saw him fall. It was only a few weeks later exactly December 21st, 2009 that my best friend fell…and didn’t get up…never got up. I still have that bell. That bell is a symbol that he was here on this earth. I want him to live on forever. Forever in all of our hearts and all of our memories. My dear best friend, moonshine, may you rest in peace.
