Aqiya

My sister is coming to visit in about a week. My husband, Lamassu, and I have been so busy tending to the horses that I’ve hardly had time to be excited to see her.

Our farm isn’t the biggest, but our horses are the best and the military always comes to us first. We have been lucky, and the country hasn’t had a large battle or any war, but an illness claimed many of the military’s horses and they need them replaced.

We don’t have enough for the number they need, but we will make a handsome amount for the sale and we should be comfortable for a long time after.

As I stand in the sunshine and brush through the hair on my favorite of the spring ponies, I think back to my childhood. I haven’t seen my sister in many years, and I’ve missed her. We were inseparable, but she fell in love with a man and followed him. He died last spring, but I only found out last week. My sister has been alone since. She must be so lonely.

Lamassu has been asking me to go on a long ride with him to clear my thoughts, and I think he’s right. As I look into his eyes, I wonder how I would react to losing him. Would I do as my sister did and bear it alone in my house for a year? I don’t know, but the thought makes my heart ache.

I think I will go for a ride and celebrate my life and my love. I have a family and together, we can get through anything. Death doesn’t have to be an end.