A Leap For The Sky - Kc Wheeler (popular novels .TXT) 📗

alone, you’d never have guessed him to be at a funeral.

“Does anyone want to say something then?” Michael asked cheerfully. Too cheerfully.

All eyes were on me. “I… I can’t,” I stammered, my eyes filling up with tears.

“It’s okay,” Lucy whispered, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder.

“Anybody?” Michael asked.

Silence.

Then to my surprise Dad spoke up. “I will.” He shuffled closer to the grave, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He cleared his throat. “I don’t trust horses,” he started. “When we bought Gypsy for Adele I was anxious. I know horse riding can be dangerous, and I kept expecting Adele to get hurt. Over time that horse allowed me to worry less and less, because I knew that Gypsy was looking after my daughter.

Adele loved Gypsy from the very first moment she saw her, and do you know what? I think that horse damn well loved her too!” Dad paused, glancing around the solemn faces. “The partnership between the two of them gave me an appreciation for horses. Thank you Gypsy, for helping and looking after my daughter. Rest in peace.” He bowed his head.

My pain was mixed with love at this moment; love for my father and his kind words.

Everybody repeated, “Rest in peace.”

“Shall we bury her then?” Michael suggested.

“Um,” I muttered. “Could I have a moment alone with her?” I asked shyly. I had to say goodbye to my beloved horse. I couldn’t merely walk away.

“Do you all want to come in for a coffee?” Michael gave me a quick smile, and I smiled through my tears in appreciation.

“You just come and get us when you’re ready, honey,” Mum said.

I watched as everybody followed Michael towards the house, leaving me alone. I turned back to the grave and stared down at Gypsy’s lifeless body, wondering where she was now; if she was anywhere at all. I couldn’t bear the thought of her simply not existing.

I knelt down beside her grave. “I’m so sorry girl. I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I whispered. “You’re crazy you know. You didn’t have to keep going for me. You won for me though. Lucy told me yesterday that you won for me. We even beat Larissa,” I told her. “But I’d be happy to never win again, if I could only keep you with me.

“You are the best horse in the world. I could never, ever find a horse like you because you are one in a billion. Living without you is just too much for me to comprehend. The only thing that could ever keep me going, is the thought that one day I’ll see you again.” No longer hysterical, I felt calm, as though floating upon a lake of sadness, comforted by my own words. “I love you Gypsy. Goodbye for now.”

Days passed by in a blur. I ate little, rarely left my bed, and spent my time sleeping, or flicking through images of Gypsy, our memories fresh in my mind. I lacked motivation to do anything. Life just seemed so pointless without Gypsy to ride and care for. I no longer had goals, ambitions, or a happy place. I cried on and off throughout the daytime, and thanked God for keeping her out of my dreams.

One afternoon Lucy came over. “Are you ready for school next week?”

“What day is it?” I asked. I’d lost track of the days. They had no meaning anymore.

“Monday,” Lucy replied.

“Today?”

“No… School starts on Monday,” Lucy raised an eyebrow at me. “Today is Friday.”

I groaned. I knew school would be starting again soon, but I hadn’t realized just how soon. “I’ll never be ready for school,” I moaned.

“At least it’s only one more year,” Lucy said. “I’m not looking forward to it either.”

“I just want to stay here forever,” I mumbled, yanking the duvet up over my head.

Lucy reached for it, pulling it back off my face. She looked at me, her face serious. “It’s nearly been a week since Gypsy’s funeral. You should come outside and get some fresh air. It’ll make you feel better,” she insisted.

I glared at her. Nothing would make me feel better.

“Or, why don’t we go see a movie or something?” Lucy suggested. “We could go shopping… Or go out for tea. You need to get out of the house!”

“No thanks,” I replied sharply.

“How about we go and ride Bugs?” she spoke casually, rolling a piece of hair around her finger.

Anger rushed over me and I struggled to push it aside. “No!”

“Why not? You don’t have to jump him if you’ve lost confidence. Flat work would do him good; or you could ride him on the road and I’ll walk. I don’t mind.”

“I haven’t lost my confidence!” I snapped. “I’m not riding Bugs. Not now, not ever!”

Lucy looked hurt. “What’s wrong with Bugs?”

“You don’t get it, do you?” I spoke carefully through gritted teeth. “I’m not riding Bugs because I’m not riding any horse ever again!” I surprised myself a little. The decision had lingered at the back of my mind since the day Gypsy died, but not only was this the first time I’d told Lucy, it was the first time I’d admitted it to myself.

Lucy gasped, her eyes wide with surprise. “But riding means everything to you!” she argued.

“Well it doesn’t anymore.”

“What about your showjumping career?” she exclaimed.

“Luckily Mum made me stay at school. For the first time ever I understand what she meant by ‘just in case.’”

“But what will you do?” Lucy’s voice softened.

“I have a year to figure that out.” I thought for a moment. “Maybe I’ll just work in a supermarket. What does it matter anyway?”

Lucy stared at me in disbelief. I stared back, challenging her to push the subject further. She looked away and climbed slowly to her feet. “I know you’re upset about Gypsy, Adele. The thing is that she’s dead, and there is nothing you can do about it,” she spoke bluntly. “You need to get on with your life.”

I looked at her in horror. “It hasn’t even been a week!” I shouted. “Gypsy was everything to me! And I killed her Lucy! I killed her!” I felt so hurt, so angry. “So forgive me if I haven’t forgotten that she ever existed after six days, Lucy!” I finished, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

“Moving on doesn’t mean forgetting her,” Lucy said calmly. A small half-smile crossed her face. “Just remember, she is just a horse.”

With that, Lucy turned the door handle and stepped out of my bedroom, leaving me in a state of shock, for I did not know Lucy could be so cold-hearted.

I puffed up my pillow and snuggled into it. I felt too furious to cry, so I lay there trembling with anger until eventually I calmed down. I don’t need Lucy anyway, I told myself.

The truth was, deep down I needed her more than anything.

Chapter Nine

Monday morning arrived far too quickly.

“You’re still not up! You need to get up right now,” Mum insisted. “You’re running late!”

I groaned and shuffled deeper beneath my sheets. The truth was, I wasn’t tired. I was simply not ready to face school, nor the people. I wasn’t ready to face discussing what happened to Gypsy with my school friends.

I wasn’t ready to face Lucy…

Mum yanked the blankets off me, and I was hit with a wave of cool morning air. I looked at her with pleading eyes. “Please don’t make me go,” I begged her. “Please.”

Mum sighed. “You’ve been in bed for over a week now. I think today will be good for you.”

“I’m not ready; I’ll break down about Gypsy in front of everybody!” I cried.

“I’m sure people will understand,” Mum replied, throwing me my school uniform. “Imagine how much worse it’d be turning up to school days after everybody else has already started.”

I knew Mum was not going to give in. I rolled off the bed onto the floor, and began to slowly get dressed, starting with my school socks. Not long after, I was hustled into the car, a piece of banana cake in my hand. I had no time for a real breakfast. I didn’t even have time to brush my hair. But I didn’t care; my appearance held no significance to me.

I entered the classroom just as the bell rang. I had English first and my new English Teacher, Mrs. Baird, was writing her name on the whiteboard. Lucy was in my English class and I spotted her in the front row, a text book on the desk in front of her. She glanced briefly at me before returning to her text book. I sighed, and chose a seat in the middle row next to a quiet girl named Anna. I didn’t feel like conversing with anyone.

The day dragged by slowly and I tried desperately to focus on my school work, but never-ending thoughts of Gypsy crossed my mind, distracting me.

When the bell rang for lunch, I headed outside. It was another nice Summer day. I headed towards our usual lunch spot, a couple picnic tables shadowed by a large tree. I spotted my two friends, Danielle and Izzy.

Between them sat Lucy.

I hesitated, then continued towards them. Danielle and Izzy were my friends too. A little conflict between Lucy and I wasn’t going to keep me away from them. I did not like the idea of eating lunch alone- I still had some dignity.

As I neared, I heard Lucy and Danielle’s conversation.

“I’ve got Bugs on this new formula to help him build muscle,” Lucy was telling Danielle. “I swear I can already see an improvement, and he has only been on it for a week!”

Danielle nodded. “That sounds really good.” Danielle, like us, loved horses. She didn’t own her own horse yet, but got fortnightly lessons and went horse trekking on a gelding named Casper at her auntie’s farm.

Izzy looked up from the orange she was peeling. “Hi Adele,” she greeted me. “Did you enjoy your holidays?”

I felt surprised that Lucy hadn’t filled the two of them in about Gypsy. Danielle gave me a quick smile, then turned her attention back to Lucy. Lucy didn’t even glance at me.

“Unfortunately no,” I replied honestly. “At least not the second half.”

Izzy looked at me questionably and I quickly explained what had happened, leaving out the part that it was all my fault. My heart lurched as I went through the story again, and I wondered how many times I’d have to tell it in this lifetime.

“I’m so sorry!” Izzy cried. She was genuine, but I knew she wouldn’t truly understand. Izzy didn’t like horses. She wasn’t a fan of many animals at all for that matter. She feared practically anything that moved, and obsessed her life around her boyfriend.

Danielle who had overheard me, threw her hand to her mouth. “Oh man. I couldn’t bear it if Casper died. That sucks! That really, really sucks.” I nodded. What was I supposed to say to that?

Danielle wasn’t great with words. Not much of a talker, she was the listener in all of her friendships. Danielle was the type of person who appeared to lack emotion; nothing fazed Danielle much. She brushed off her repetitively bad grades, and never let her solid figure or face of freckles get in the way of asking out a guy she fancied. She was relaxed and full of confidence, and I envied her for that. Despite appearing careless, she was deep down a gentle soul who loved horses and animals of all shapes and sizes. Once when I went to squash a big spider on my desk in class, Danielle had calmly said, “Wait,” and had cupped her hand around the spider, placing it on a tall branch outside the window. Myself and half of the class were practically freaking out. I personally could not bring myself to hold a spider!

Lucy who had remained quiet during my explanation of what happened to Gypsy, quickly returned to her conversation about Bugs’ diet, and giving me an apologetic smile, Danielle leaned forward to